Election asks and EB11 log of claims
Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 127 No 5, 19 July 2024, page 9.
The QTU has brought forward the EB11 claim development process by six months to ensure that it is completed before the state election, so the key items can be put to the major parties and commitments can be sought before the people of Queensland go to the polls on October 26.
Members across the state have been attending special branch meetings to provide input into the development of the QTU’s log of claims for EB11.
The QTU has received more than 1,400 motions from members who attended special workplace meetings, branch meetings, and area council meetings, and additional logs of claim from members of QTU standing committees and special interest groups.
The motions cover a wide range of topics and are being sorted into themes. These themes will help to inform the areas of interest that the QTU will put forward as part of its log of claims. QTU Executive will then consider the proposed log of claims at the start of Term 3, and delegates at State Council will endorse the log of claims in August.
In the lead up to the State Election, the QTU held a tactical workshop during the recent school holiday period, with members of Executive and QTU officers, to help develop and refine our election asks.
These election asks will accompany the log of claims and be sent to all political parties, to secure commitments from all parties in the lead up to the State Election to be held on 26 October.
It is vital that any future government shows us exactly how they will value our profession if elected.
QTU ready to present election asks
The enterprise bargaining process we go through only relates to matters that directly impact upon the employees covered by our certified agreement, so it cannot deliver on other member “asks” such as upgraded school facilities or investment in a range of support roles in schools (more teacher-aide time, additional administrative support, youth workers and primary/allied health support roles).
That is where member campaigning aligned to the state budget process and each state election cycle comes in.
QTU members, like other public servants, are in a unique position in that they not only get to vote for a state government, they also get a say in who will be their employer.
The QTU election asks this year will be presented for endorsement at the next meeting of State Council on 10 August, alongside the EB11 log of claims. The state election asks will be framed under the following themes:
- Salaries
- Fully funding schools and TAFE
- Safe and secure schools and communities
- Regional education plan (Addressing the teacher shortage crisis)
- Maximising professional collaboration time.
Alongside other public sector unions, the QTU will also be campaigning for:
- a review of locality allowances
- delivery of 18 weeks of paid parental leave for all parents
- more investment in employee housing
- an industrial relations guarantee for registered organisations.
The QTU will be organising a range of events in the lead up to the state election, including delegations to MPs and candidates and member forums. If you would like to get involved as we campaign to secure the QTU’s State Election asks from whoever forms government after the next state election, contact your Regional Organiser.
More information on the campaign and member activities will be provided once State Council has endorsed the final list of asks.