Latest news with #QueenslandTeachers'Union
Sydney Morning Herald
6 days ago
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Modern-day bullying': Minister asks striking teachers to consider premier's feelings
Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek has asked striking teachers to consider the impact of personal call-outs to politicians on the placards they carried at Wednesday's rally. Some 50,000 members of the Queensland Teachers' Union stopped work for the first time in 16 years this week, with thousands rallying on Parliament House in Brisbane, demanding better pay and conditions from the state government. In budget estimates on Thursday morning, Opposition education spokeswoman Di Farmer presented a stack of placards used during the strike that had been inspired by the classic children's book series No, David! by American author David Shannon. 'The first page says 'working nights, weekends, and holidays, that's not funny', and they say 'David', but obviously referring to the premier,' Farmer explained. Farmer asked Langbroek to hand the placards to Premier David Crisafulli. Langbroek agreed the signs should be tabled, but said he doubted it was an 'appropriate' way to deliver the concerns to his leader. 'People should be looking at the things that [the teachers] write ... in my view this can be seen as modern-day bullying,' Langbroek said. He added that politicians were 'all happy to cop cartoons' but some messages had crossed lines.
The Age
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Age
‘Modern-day bullying': Minister asks striking teachers to consider premier's feelings
Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek has asked striking teachers to consider the impact of personal call-outs to politicians on the placards they carried at Wednesday's rally. Some 50,000 members of the Queensland Teachers' Union stopped work for the first time in 16 years this week, with thousands rallying on Parliament House in Brisbane, demanding better pay and conditions from the state government. In budget estimates on Thursday morning, Opposition education spokeswoman Di Farmer presented a stack of placards used during the strike that had been inspired by the classic children's book series No, David! by American author David Shannon. 'The first page says 'working nights, weekends, and holidays, that's not funny', and they say 'David', but obviously referring to the premier,' Farmer explained. Farmer asked Langbroek to hand the placards to Premier David Crisafulli. Langbroek agreed the signs should be tabled, but said he doubted it was an 'appropriate' way to deliver the concerns to his leader. 'People should be looking at the things that [the teachers] write ... in my view this can be seen as modern-day bullying,' Langbroek said. He added that politicians were 'all happy to cop cartoons' but some messages had crossed lines.
New York Post
6 days ago
- New York Post
Australian teacher says she was beaten, sexually harassed by students as 50000 teachers strike
A Queensland primary school teacher has spoken of being beaten and sexually harassed by her students, as tens of thousands of educators across the state walked off the job on Wednesday in a historic strike. Chelsea Rose, who is based on the Gold Coast, detailed just how far from what some perceive to be 'the easiest job on earth' teaching can really be in a video on TikTok. 'In honor of the strike on Wednesday … I'm going to tell you about my most tricky day as a teacher,' she said. 'The day started like most days where a specific child came into the room every day with their metal drink bottle and a ruler and they would bash it and make the loudest noise. 'This day they decided to put their drink bottle (in front of their private parts) and start shaking it, making the, you know, motion (to simulate masturbation). 'They then opened the lid and let the water spray everywhere and said, 'I just c—ed all over you.'' In a separate incident that same day, Rose said a group of students brought a dead bird into the classroom and threw it at her and the other children. 4 Australian primary school teacher Chelsea Rose reveals she was sexually harassed by her students. Chelsea Rose/TikTok After which a male student 'basically started laying into me' as they exited the classroom. 'Because of restrictive practices, I could not defend myself, so I just had to stand there and cop it,' Rose said. 'The child hit me so hard and (so) many times that they ended up breaking one of my ribs. 'The child was suspended for 20 days and then they were back in my classroom for the rest of the year.' The strike on Wednesday, the first of its kind in 16 years, comes as the Queensland Teachers' Union (QTU) warned of a chronic staffing crisis, rising workloads, and a pay dispute they say has pushed the public education system to breaking point. The union has accused Premier David Crisafulli's government of failing to address the 'urgency of serious issues' affecting classrooms statewide. Addressing a crowd in Brisbane on Wednesday morning, QTU President Cresta Richardson said that concerns like school violence were also being overlooked. Last October, a shocking report – published by Collective Shout, a grassroot campaigns movement against the objectification of women and sexualisation of girls, and parenting author and educator, Maggie Dent – revealed children as young as Year 5 and 6 are being pressured by peers into sending nudes, and the photos are then being passed around to other boys. In disturbing testimony as part of the Sexual Harassment of Teachers (SHoT) survey, teachers and educators documented the rise of sexual harassment against children and teachers in primary and high school amid concerns that unfettered access to pornography at an early age is driving alarming behaviours. 4 Rose said a group of students brought a dead bird into the classroom and threw it at her and the other children. Chelsea Rose/TikTok Teachers – almost all female – complained of routine sexual harassment by male students including moaning, sexist slurs, being asked for nudes and rape threats. 'I've had to deal with an increase in sexual assault threats online, sexual images being shown and girls being pushed to do sexual acts,' one teacher said. 'I had a student tell his girlfriend about his rape fantasies involving me,' another said. 'He also threatened to rape his girlfriend if she told anyone.' 4 Over 50,000 teachers in Queensland, Australia, went on strike on Aug. 6, 2025. ABC News (Australia)/YouTube Almost all (80.6 per cent) of those teachers who had experienced such harassment within a school environment said it had been instigated by a student, predominantly male students in Years 9 and 10. Some of the harmful sexual behaviours, however, were exhibited by children from as young as kindergarten to Year 3. '(As a teacher I have) never felt so drained, mentally and emotionally, (as I have) in the past two years dealing with the increase of this behaviour with no school supports in place,' one teacher said. Other educators expressed a similar sentiment. 'The safety of very large portions of the school community is at risk, not just (in terms of) physical safety but mental and emotional wellbeing,' one said. 4 The strike on Wednesday, the first of its kind in 16 years, comes as the Queensland Teachers' Union (QTU) warned of a chronic staffing crisis, rising workloads, and a pay dispute they say has pushed the public education system to breaking point. ABC News (Australia)/YouTube Richardson said the QTU is 'united and dedicated to turning around the exodus of burnt-out teachers and school leaders from our schools'. 'We can't let more teachers and school leaders walk out the door,' she said. 'We have to attract and retain our educators. Today is a day to remind everyone how important our state schools are.' Queensland Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek said the government had held 18 formal meetings with the union over the past five months and remained committed to reaching an agreement. The union is due to resume talks with Langbroek, Crisafulli and the Department of Education on Thursday.
The Advertiser
7 days ago
- Politics
- The Advertiser
'This is the moment': teachers strike over wage deal
Further industrial action looms after thousands of educators walked off the job in the largest teachers' strike in a state's history. Queensland teachers on Wednesday abandoned classrooms for the first time in 16 years, demanding better pay and conditions after government negotiations broke down. Brisbane's CBD came to a standstill amid a sea of placards as about 4000 people marched on state parliament. It was part of 30 rallies across the state after more than 50,000 union members voted to strike for the first time since 2009. Almost 600,000 state primary and high school students were affected by Wednesday's 24-hour industrial action. "This is the moment to stand up, be seen, be counted and be heard," Gold Coast teacher Damien Richardson told the Brisbane rally. Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek was hopeful of returning to negotiations after talks collapsed following 18 meetings with the union in the past five months. The Queensland Teachers' Union has not ruled out taking more industrial action. "Sadly, it probably wouldn't end here today. This is not going to be easy," union president Cresta Richardson told the rally. "We have spoken today. This is a teacher voice that cannot be denied." The union in June rejected the latest offer of three per cent, 2.5 per cent and 2.5 per cent salary increases respectively over the next three years. "If we accept the state wages policy, it actually takes us to the lowest-paid teachers in the country," Ms Richardson told reporters. "We can afford an Olympic Games but we can't afford to pay our teachers properly, come on." The strike action was also part of a campaign for safer classrooms and solutions to a teacher shortage, the union said. "Together, teachers and school leaders will write a new chapter in Queensland's history books and remind the government just how valuable we are to education in our state schools," the union said on Instagram. Terry Evans retired after being a teacher for more than 20 years but decided to march in Brisbane after the government's latest wage offer. "Like most people, I think it's piss poor. It's a ridiculous offer," he told AAP. Opposition Leader Steven Miles was among a handful of Labor caucus members joining the march. "They were promised nation-leading wages," he told AAP. "I think we have the best teachers in the country and they should be appreciated for it." Mr Langbroek said the Liberal National government would continue to negotiate in good faith. "Our second offer to the union ... would see them at $135,000, which would make them number one in the country," he said. "I want to reassure parents, teachers and students that we're confident we can come to a negotiated settlement. "It is costly for the people taking this industrial action. They lose a day's pay." Pay negotiations have been referred to the Industrial Relations Commission for conciliation by the Queensland government. TEACHER SALARIES NATIONWIDE: * Queensland: under the government's pay offer, by 2027 a graduate teacher would earn $84,000 per year and a senior educator $135,000. * NSW: graduate teacher earns $87,550 and senior educator about $125,763. * Victoria: graduate teacher earns $79,589 and senior educator up to $129,544. * South Australia: graduate teacher earns $82,496 and senior educator up to $129,841. * Tasmania: graduate teacher earns $82,828 and senior educator up to $118,328. * Western Australia: graduate teacher earns $85,610 and senior educator up to $130,257. * Northern Territory: graduate teacher earns $92,215 and senior educator up to $188,789. Further industrial action looms after thousands of educators walked off the job in the largest teachers' strike in a state's history. Queensland teachers on Wednesday abandoned classrooms for the first time in 16 years, demanding better pay and conditions after government negotiations broke down. Brisbane's CBD came to a standstill amid a sea of placards as about 4000 people marched on state parliament. It was part of 30 rallies across the state after more than 50,000 union members voted to strike for the first time since 2009. Almost 600,000 state primary and high school students were affected by Wednesday's 24-hour industrial action. "This is the moment to stand up, be seen, be counted and be heard," Gold Coast teacher Damien Richardson told the Brisbane rally. Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek was hopeful of returning to negotiations after talks collapsed following 18 meetings with the union in the past five months. The Queensland Teachers' Union has not ruled out taking more industrial action. "Sadly, it probably wouldn't end here today. This is not going to be easy," union president Cresta Richardson told the rally. "We have spoken today. This is a teacher voice that cannot be denied." The union in June rejected the latest offer of three per cent, 2.5 per cent and 2.5 per cent salary increases respectively over the next three years. "If we accept the state wages policy, it actually takes us to the lowest-paid teachers in the country," Ms Richardson told reporters. "We can afford an Olympic Games but we can't afford to pay our teachers properly, come on." The strike action was also part of a campaign for safer classrooms and solutions to a teacher shortage, the union said. "Together, teachers and school leaders will write a new chapter in Queensland's history books and remind the government just how valuable we are to education in our state schools," the union said on Instagram. Terry Evans retired after being a teacher for more than 20 years but decided to march in Brisbane after the government's latest wage offer. "Like most people, I think it's piss poor. It's a ridiculous offer," he told AAP. Opposition Leader Steven Miles was among a handful of Labor caucus members joining the march. "They were promised nation-leading wages," he told AAP. "I think we have the best teachers in the country and they should be appreciated for it." Mr Langbroek said the Liberal National government would continue to negotiate in good faith. "Our second offer to the union ... would see them at $135,000, which would make them number one in the country," he said. "I want to reassure parents, teachers and students that we're confident we can come to a negotiated settlement. "It is costly for the people taking this industrial action. They lose a day's pay." Pay negotiations have been referred to the Industrial Relations Commission for conciliation by the Queensland government. TEACHER SALARIES NATIONWIDE: * Queensland: under the government's pay offer, by 2027 a graduate teacher would earn $84,000 per year and a senior educator $135,000. * NSW: graduate teacher earns $87,550 and senior educator about $125,763. * Victoria: graduate teacher earns $79,589 and senior educator up to $129,544. * South Australia: graduate teacher earns $82,496 and senior educator up to $129,841. * Tasmania: graduate teacher earns $82,828 and senior educator up to $118,328. * Western Australia: graduate teacher earns $85,610 and senior educator up to $130,257. * Northern Territory: graduate teacher earns $92,215 and senior educator up to $188,789. Further industrial action looms after thousands of educators walked off the job in the largest teachers' strike in a state's history. Queensland teachers on Wednesday abandoned classrooms for the first time in 16 years, demanding better pay and conditions after government negotiations broke down. Brisbane's CBD came to a standstill amid a sea of placards as about 4000 people marched on state parliament. It was part of 30 rallies across the state after more than 50,000 union members voted to strike for the first time since 2009. Almost 600,000 state primary and high school students were affected by Wednesday's 24-hour industrial action. "This is the moment to stand up, be seen, be counted and be heard," Gold Coast teacher Damien Richardson told the Brisbane rally. Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek was hopeful of returning to negotiations after talks collapsed following 18 meetings with the union in the past five months. The Queensland Teachers' Union has not ruled out taking more industrial action. "Sadly, it probably wouldn't end here today. This is not going to be easy," union president Cresta Richardson told the rally. "We have spoken today. This is a teacher voice that cannot be denied." The union in June rejected the latest offer of three per cent, 2.5 per cent and 2.5 per cent salary increases respectively over the next three years. "If we accept the state wages policy, it actually takes us to the lowest-paid teachers in the country," Ms Richardson told reporters. "We can afford an Olympic Games but we can't afford to pay our teachers properly, come on." The strike action was also part of a campaign for safer classrooms and solutions to a teacher shortage, the union said. "Together, teachers and school leaders will write a new chapter in Queensland's history books and remind the government just how valuable we are to education in our state schools," the union said on Instagram. Terry Evans retired after being a teacher for more than 20 years but decided to march in Brisbane after the government's latest wage offer. "Like most people, I think it's piss poor. It's a ridiculous offer," he told AAP. Opposition Leader Steven Miles was among a handful of Labor caucus members joining the march. "They were promised nation-leading wages," he told AAP. "I think we have the best teachers in the country and they should be appreciated for it." Mr Langbroek said the Liberal National government would continue to negotiate in good faith. "Our second offer to the union ... would see them at $135,000, which would make them number one in the country," he said. "I want to reassure parents, teachers and students that we're confident we can come to a negotiated settlement. "It is costly for the people taking this industrial action. They lose a day's pay." Pay negotiations have been referred to the Industrial Relations Commission for conciliation by the Queensland government. TEACHER SALARIES NATIONWIDE: * Queensland: under the government's pay offer, by 2027 a graduate teacher would earn $84,000 per year and a senior educator $135,000. * NSW: graduate teacher earns $87,550 and senior educator about $125,763. * Victoria: graduate teacher earns $79,589 and senior educator up to $129,544. * South Australia: graduate teacher earns $82,496 and senior educator up to $129,841. * Tasmania: graduate teacher earns $82,828 and senior educator up to $118,328. * Western Australia: graduate teacher earns $85,610 and senior educator up to $130,257. * Northern Territory: graduate teacher earns $92,215 and senior educator up to $188,789. Further industrial action looms after thousands of educators walked off the job in the largest teachers' strike in a state's history. Queensland teachers on Wednesday abandoned classrooms for the first time in 16 years, demanding better pay and conditions after government negotiations broke down. Brisbane's CBD came to a standstill amid a sea of placards as about 4000 people marched on state parliament. It was part of 30 rallies across the state after more than 50,000 union members voted to strike for the first time since 2009. Almost 600,000 state primary and high school students were affected by Wednesday's 24-hour industrial action. "This is the moment to stand up, be seen, be counted and be heard," Gold Coast teacher Damien Richardson told the Brisbane rally. Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek was hopeful of returning to negotiations after talks collapsed following 18 meetings with the union in the past five months. The Queensland Teachers' Union has not ruled out taking more industrial action. "Sadly, it probably wouldn't end here today. This is not going to be easy," union president Cresta Richardson told the rally. "We have spoken today. This is a teacher voice that cannot be denied." The union in June rejected the latest offer of three per cent, 2.5 per cent and 2.5 per cent salary increases respectively over the next three years. "If we accept the state wages policy, it actually takes us to the lowest-paid teachers in the country," Ms Richardson told reporters. "We can afford an Olympic Games but we can't afford to pay our teachers properly, come on." The strike action was also part of a campaign for safer classrooms and solutions to a teacher shortage, the union said. "Together, teachers and school leaders will write a new chapter in Queensland's history books and remind the government just how valuable we are to education in our state schools," the union said on Instagram. Terry Evans retired after being a teacher for more than 20 years but decided to march in Brisbane after the government's latest wage offer. "Like most people, I think it's piss poor. It's a ridiculous offer," he told AAP. Opposition Leader Steven Miles was among a handful of Labor caucus members joining the march. "They were promised nation-leading wages," he told AAP. "I think we have the best teachers in the country and they should be appreciated for it." Mr Langbroek said the Liberal National government would continue to negotiate in good faith. "Our second offer to the union ... would see them at $135,000, which would make them number one in the country," he said. "I want to reassure parents, teachers and students that we're confident we can come to a negotiated settlement. "It is costly for the people taking this industrial action. They lose a day's pay." Pay negotiations have been referred to the Industrial Relations Commission for conciliation by the Queensland government. TEACHER SALARIES NATIONWIDE: * Queensland: under the government's pay offer, by 2027 a graduate teacher would earn $84,000 per year and a senior educator $135,000. * NSW: graduate teacher earns $87,550 and senior educator about $125,763. * Victoria: graduate teacher earns $79,589 and senior educator up to $129,544. * South Australia: graduate teacher earns $82,496 and senior educator up to $129,841. * Tasmania: graduate teacher earns $82,828 and senior educator up to $118,328. * Western Australia: graduate teacher earns $85,610 and senior educator up to $130,257. * Northern Territory: graduate teacher earns $92,215 and senior educator up to $188,789.
Sydney Morning Herald
7 days ago
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘We've been quiet long enough': Queensland teachers strike in their thousands
Wearing a mask with the word 'Silence' crossed out, teacher Lyn was among the thousands of teachers preparing to march to Parliament House on Wednesday. 'We've been quiet for long enough, our classroom conditions need to improve,' she said. Queensland's 50,000 state school teachers have walked off the job for the first time in 16 years – and the Queensland Teachers' Union has not ruled out further strikes. 'We'll be updating our members around the state, and then we'll be considering what our next steps are,' QTU president Cresta Richardson said. 'And if that is further industrial action, then that's what that will be. 'We can afford an Olympic Games, but we can't afford to pay our teachers properly.' In Brisbane, more than 4000 teachers were set to march from the Convention and Exhibition Centre in South Bank across the river to Parliament House. Jack Diamond was among them.
