Brisbane, Queensland – Queensland Teachers to Strike Over Pay Negotiations as Nurses Express Anger at ‘Swift’ Police Deal For the first time in 16 years, Queensland teachers are preparing to go on a 24-hour strike next Wednesday, August 6, in a last-ditch attempt to secure a “fair” pay deal.
The strike, which will impact over half a million students, comes after negotiations with the state government reached a stalemate.
The Queensland Teachers’ Union (QTU) voted in favor of the strike action during a two-week ballot, urging parents to keep their children at home on the day of the strike.
While no child will be left unsupervised, the union has emphasized that no official curriculum will be taught that day.
The strike follows a failed attempt to reach an agreement on a new Enterprise Bargaining Agreement (EBA) for the state’s teachers, which was referred to the Industrial Relations Commission (IRC) for conciliation by the government on Monday.
Meanwhile, the Queensland Nurses and Midwives’ Union (QNMU) has expressed anger and frustration over the government’s “swift” agreement with the Queensland Police Service (QPS), which includes a minimum pay rise of 3% from July 1 this year, followed by a 2.5% hike in 2026 and 2027, as well as an $8,000 retention bonus.
QNMU Secretary Sarah Beaman questioned whether the government’s priorities were influenced by the fact that the police force is male-dominated, while the nursing profession is predominantly female.
“It’s actually quite outrageous that nurses and midwives have been fighting for months and months to defend even the conditions we currently have in our agreement when the government is quick to do a better deal with the police,” Beaman said.
“What are we missing here?
Is it because we are predominantly women?
Is it because our workforce is larger?
Either way, there’s no good excuse for nurses and midwives to be disadvantaged.”
In a statement, Health Minister Tim Nicholls said the government remained committed to finalizing an agreement with the QNMU, highlighting that Queensland offered “nation-leading wages.”
A new pay agreement for nurses has also been sent to the IRC, while a new agreement with firefighters also needs to be brokered.
Parents and the public are urged to keep informed about the developments and to contact the relevant authorities for further information.
The Queensland Teachers’ Union can be reached at `qtu.asn.au`, while the Queensland Nurses and Midwives’ Union can be contacted at `qnmu.org.au`.