The statue of Queen Victoria has stood in this place for over a century, now shrouded in scaffolding net. She holds a globe and an angel but is blinded by the sultry Queensland sun. Thanks to climate change, it is 35 degrees humid with threats of hail storms around Magan-djin (Brisbane).
Five thousand (5000) teachers came to Queen’s Gardens to protest the pathetic offer by government in the current round of enterprise bargaining. Teachers filled the streets today to confront the Crisafulli government for its lack of support for public schools. The teachers are hamstrung by a system that requires ‘negotiation in good faith’ where there is none.
The QTU seem to be the only union properly organising at the current time. I’m not talking leadership here I’m talking about ranking file delegates and some organizers. You would expect all the other unions to be heavily involved in the struggle during a time of low wages, high unemployment, high cost of living mounting mortgages and rents.
The tower of power, regardless of the colour of the government, blue or red, has done nothing.
The pay offer by government will barely enable teachers to tread water. There is a risk in this enterprise bargaining agreement that teaches will come off worse than before. For some reason, the EBA does not include indices of higher costs of living such as interest rates CPI and rents. Government bean counters are concerned about risk.
The teachers in Queensland want national best outcomes on wages and conditions, which currently lag behind teachers in other states. They want respect in schools which are beset by challenging behaviour.
Government has been happy to fund private schools, always have been since Menzies. That is why the teachers stood in front of the education department building in Mary Street and sang we will not take it anymore. Victory 2 the QTU!
Ian Curr
25 November 2024
The problem with the teachers is that they are just too concerned about the well being of their students. However, being honest, something I know is not heard often these days, we need a much better society and the only way that will ever happen is with a much better education system with teachers paid on par to what some of the students they teach earn. To accomplish this, the teachers must go out until that is achieved. It won’t take long, because once the ‘babysitters’ for the workers is gone and the workers have to stay home. We will finally see some results.
One more demand, No more than 10 students to a class.
Thanks for your comments Stephen . Of course you are right . teachers have no respect . they are treated like babysitters . they are not . they are learning facilitators . it is not their job to babysit children . by the way, there is a severe shortage of trained teachers. Solidarity, Ian