School's out: Parents asked to keep kids home as Qld teachers stage mass walkout
About 95 per cent of Queensland Teachers' Union members voted to walk off the job for 24 hours on Wednesday next week amid negotiations over pay and conditions with the state government – the first strike for the union in 16 years.
And the Wednesday strike is likely to be one of many, with the union warning 'a series of 24-hour strikes are impending'.
On Wednesday morning, the union urged Queenslanders to 'stand with us at this crucial time', arguing schools were critically understaffed and teachers and school leaders were burning out.
'If you have children, please keep them at home on Wednesday,' the union said on social media.
Loading
'We do not do this lightly. We have been left with no choice because education in this state is at breaking point.'
The union said the government's offer showed little respect for teachers' essential work and would reduce them to some of the lowest paid in Australia.
'The state government's offer, if accepted, would compound an already critical teacher shortage,' the union's statement says.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sydney Morning Herald
an hour ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Premier criticises plans for Story Bridge Palestine march, but leaves call to police
The Story Bridge could be shut for a march mirroring the protest on the Sydney Harbour Bridge last weekend – but Premier David Crisafulli has criticised the plan. Organisers Justice for Palestine Magan-djin has sought permission to rally between Raymond Park in Kangaroo Point and Centenary Park in Fortitude Valley from 1pm on Sunday, August 24, as part of a 'nationwide march for Palestine'. They said in a statement on Friday that the protest was being organised to reflect the 'urgency of the situation in Gaza'. 'This is the same bridge our lord mayor refused to light in the colours of the Palestinian flag, denying solidarity to a grieving community.' The new events being planned follow Sunday's march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge by what police estimate was 90,000, and organisers put at 200,000 to 300,000 people. Asked whether his government would seek to intervene, as the former Labor government did to halt a pandemic-era protest over the treatment of refugees, Premier David Crisafulli said: 'Police will assess the application independently based on community safety but shutting down a city is no way to endear Queenslanders to your cause.' Queensland Police, which recently blocked an unrelated attempt to stage a peak-hour bridge protest over the closure of its pedestrian access, are now assessing the request. 'The QPS recognises that every person has the right to peacefully assemble under Human Rights Act and Peaceful Assembly Act,' a spokesperson said.
The Age
an hour ago
- The Age
Premier criticises plans for Story Bridge Palestine march, but leaves call to police
The Story Bridge could be shut for a march mirroring the protest on the Sydney Harbour Bridge last weekend – but Premier David Crisafulli has criticised the plan. Organisers Justice for Palestine Magan-djin has sought permission to rally between Raymond Park in Kangaroo Point and Centenary Park in Fortitude Valley from 1pm on Sunday, August 24, as part of a 'nationwide march for Palestine'. They said in a statement on Friday that the protest was being organised to reflect the 'urgency of the situation in Gaza'. 'This is the same bridge our lord mayor refused to light in the colours of the Palestinian flag, denying solidarity to a grieving community.' The new events being planned follow Sunday's march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge by what police estimate was 90,000, and organisers put at 200,000 to 300,000 people. Asked whether his government would seek to intervene, as the former Labor government did to halt a pandemic-era protest over the treatment of refugees, Premier David Crisafulli said: 'Police will assess the application independently based on community safety but shutting down a city is no way to endear Queenslanders to your cause.' Queensland Police, which recently blocked an unrelated attempt to stage a peak-hour bridge protest over the closure of its pedestrian access, are now assessing the request. 'The QPS recognises that every person has the right to peacefully assemble under Human Rights Act and Peaceful Assembly Act,' a spokesperson said.
West Australian
6 hours ago
- West Australian
City braces for potential road shutdown for pro-Palestinian rally
A pro-Palestinian group has formally applied to close Brisbane's Story Bridge for a mass rally, aiming to replicate last weekend's huge march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The plan would shut a major arterial road between Brisbane's north and south for hours, potentially causing significant traffic disruption. Justice for Palestine wants the Story Bridge shut for several hours on Sunday, August 24, so thousands of protesters can walk the 1.5km route from Raymond Park to Centenary Place. Organisers estimate at least 7000 people will take part, citing growing crowds at recent Brisbane events. In a recent newsletter, Justice for Palestine (Brisbane) called the Sydney rally a 'historic march for Palestine'. They said their planned August 24 march would be part of a 'national day of action', crossing the iconic bridge from Kangaroo Point to Fortitude Valley. 'This week, hundreds of students walked off university campuses in solidarity with Palestine, including UQ students and staff,' the letter read. 'We have the numbers to light up the bridge with the colours of liberation with people power instead. We need this to be a massive mobilisation for Palestine.' The letter also criticised Brisbane's Lord Mayor Adrien Schrinner for lighting the bridge in Israeli flag colours at the start of the conflict and refusing to show solidarity with Palestine. 'We will not be silent,' they said. Queensland Police confirmed that it had received the application and was assessing it. 'The QPS recognises that every person has the right to peacefully assemble under the Human Rights Act and Peaceful Assembly Act,' a spokesperson said. It is the second time this year a protest has been proposed for the Story Bridge. In May, Queensland Police blocked a demonstration over the closure of footpaths for maintenance. Premier David Crisafulli said the decision would be made independently by police. 'Police will assess the application independently based on community safety, but shutting down a city is no way to endear Queenslanders to your cause,' he said. The proposal has been met with strong opposition from the Queensland Jewish Board of Deputies, which warned it would heighten tensions. '(The Story Bridge) should not be hijacked for protests that promote or appear to support Hamas, Hezbollah, ISIS, and the Islamic Republic of Iran, as we saw on the Sydney Harbour Bridge this past weekend,' a statement read. 'It would be far more constructive for them to focus on these humanitarian concerns than to use public infrastructure to promote divisive messages that bring shame on our city.' Organisers of the Sydney march initially had their application rejected by police, but the decision was overturned in court. They expected 50,000 people to attend on August 3, but police later estimated more than 90,000 took part. Queensland's largest protest on record remains the 2003 anti-Iraq War rally, which drew about 100,000 people into Brisbane's CBD. The Story Bridge itself has handled crowds of up to 74,000, spread across four sessions, during its 75th birthday celebrations.
