How and why the QTU campaigns
QTU members, with help from their Union, have scored some big wins for fair resourcing and funding for state schools, with flow-on benefits for the whole public education system.
Members play a vital role in letting the QTU know about problems in the workplace.
When these problems are shared across schools or threaten the safety of teachers and students, it’s time for action. Members are alerted to emerging issues by Newsflashes sent to their principal and school rep.
To solve problems, the QTU first negotiates with the State and Federal Governments.
If negotiations are blocked, then the QTU increases lobbying pressure by highlighting issues to the media.
As a last resort, members at individual schools can vote to take industrial action including stop-work meetings and strikes.
THROWBACK THURSDAY
CAMPAIGN VIDEOS
888 Campaign
EB 2
EB 3
EB 4
EB 6
EB 7
EB 8
CURRENT QTU CAMPAIGNS
QTU PAST CAMPAIGNS
A snapshot of moments from our recent past (1989-2014). Embedded in these stories are pearls of wisdom that should and must inform the thoughts and deeds of teachers and unionists of today and tomorrow.
2010-2014: School funding campaign - we give a Gonski
Covering the first four years of the Gonski Campaign. For updated information, please see current campaigns...
1989 - 2014: Curriculum - some things change...
Curriculum change has been a constant companion of Queensland teachers in the past 25 years, as has the range of factors impacting on what is taught and how.
1989 - 2014: ... while other things don't
While reviewing curriculum issues over the past 25 years, I noted that while the names involved in 125 years of QTU curriculum campaigning might have changed ... the issues don’t.
1989 to 2014: TAFE: It's tough but hope remains
In 1987, the Hawke Labor government introduced fundamental changes to higher education
2012: EB7 - teaching conditions = learning conditions
QTU members took on Campbell Newman’s ruthless slash and burn government in 2012, defending their own rights and more importantly, fighting for the children they teach.
1989 - 2010s: Action and advocacy - professional issues campaigning
Now, as always, the struggle is to ensure that the officers of the department ... do not undermine hard-fought teaching and industrial conditions of the members of the QTU.
2008: Teacher Housing Campaign
The living conditions endured by teachers in remote areas of Queensland has been an issue for the QTU ever since its creation. In 2008, however, QTU members decided that they had enough.
2005-2008: Central Queensland teachers stand up for housing
Between 2005 and 2008, members in Central Queensland lead the way in enhancing the quality and security of teacher accommodation.
2005 - 2007: Your Rights at Work (YRAW)
This campaign to restore workers' rights and achieve fairer industrial relations laws was one of the most successful union and community campaigns in Australian election history.
2003: Class sizes
The "Class Size Counts" campaign was a significant working conditions component of the 2002 EB negotiations
2000: Enterprise bargaining campaign
This campaign was a testament to the tenacity and determination of teachers and their Union
1997-1998: The Leading Schools saga
“the most bitter dispute in the history of industrial relations between the QTU and the Department of Education”.
1995: Non-contact time (NCT) secured for all
Probably the principal industrial advancement for teachers in the nineties was the achievement of NCT for non-secondary teachers as an award entitlement.
1993: Striking to stop the cuts
At the time, 11 per cent of secondary classes were already oversized. The proposed cuts would have at least doubled that number.
1990s - 2002: The long road to professional standards
The success of thiscampaign can be measured by a number of factors including the significant collaboration involved in the development and pilot of the standards and the shift towards support of teacher professionalism.
1990s: The RAIS campaigns
Many policies today are sourced to disputes at this time.
1990s: Teacher transfer
Teacher transfer has always been an important part of the profession of teaching.