Queensland parents are being advised to keep their children home from school tomorrow as up to 48,000 teachers are set to participate in a statewide strike.
The industrial action will affect all 1,266 state schools and around 560,000 students across Queensland.
While schools will remain open with students safe and under supervision, the Department of Education noted that services such as excursions, tuckshops, and after-school care will be handled individually by each school. Parents should have already received updates from their respective principals regarding arrangements.
Queensland Teacher Strike: 48,000 Educators Walk Out, Parents Urged to Keep Children Home
The Queensland Teachers’ Union (QTU) has turned down an offer of an eight per cent pay increase over three years, insisting the government focus instead on tackling the teacher shortage and improving workplace safety.
This isn’t just about teachers’ salaries – it’s a community-wide concern to make sure there are enough qualified professionals in our classrooms teaching and supporting students,” QTU President Cresta Richardson stated.
She stressed that the teacher shortage is a serious crisis and has reached a breaking point.
Union Demands Action on Teacher Shortages, Safety, and Workplace Conditions as Rallies Planned Across State
QTU General Secretary Kate Ruttiman said the ongoing teacher shortage is driving more staff to leave due to burnout.
“When you add the increasing levels of occupational violence and aggression to the mix, the situation becomes even more challenging,” she explained.
She noted that the government is fully aware of these issues.
Teachers are set to hold rallies at 34 locations across Queensland, including Southbank’s Convention Centre, before marching across the Victoria Bridge to state parliament.
At Marsden State High School—the largest high school in the country—over 160 union-member teachers are expected to take part in the strike.
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