Queensland teachers rally for first time in 16 years after pay talks break down

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Teachers have rallied in Toowoomba this afternoon ahead of their first strike in more than 16 years next week. It comes after pay talks with the government broke down, with more than 500,000 students to be affected.

Transcript

00:00Out of the classroom and onto the streets.

00:05We are here because we aren't being listened to.

00:07They're not having chairs thrown at them while they're doing their job.

00:10They're not being spoken to the way we are spoken to.

00:13Protesting in Toowoomba after enterprise negotiations with the government broke down.

00:18Our teachers and school leaders are suffering from workload pressures,

00:21occupational violence, not feeling respected in their workplaces

00:25and we have an attraction and retention problem.

00:28More than 38,000 teachers will walk off the job next Wednesday for the first time since 2009,

00:34affecting more than half a million kids.

00:37Your students, your children are our number one priority when it comes to safety

00:41and so across state schools there will be arrangements made in conjunction with the department.

00:46The minister says any students turning up will be supervised.

00:49Our key concern here is any disruption to student education

00:53and we know education is so pivotal to student success and wellbeing in the future.

00:57The union has knocked back an 8% pay offer over three years calling for nation leading wages.

01:04It appears that we can afford an Olympics but we can't afford to get the right salaries and conditions for our teachers and school leaders.

01:10We've had 17 meetings over five months.

01:13It's not something that is going to lead to a crescendo next Wednesday.

01:17It's part of the process.

01:19Negotiations between the teachers union and the state government are now being mediated by the industrial relations commission.

01:26The QTU says it's unlikely a deal will be reached before the plans strike next Wednesday and foreshadowed further rallies.

01:33We'll see you next time.

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