Queensland government makes three-year 8 per cent pay rise offer to state's school teachers
Teachers across Queensland walked off the job in August, demanding better pay and conditions. (ABC News: Nathan Morris)
In short:
The state government has made a pay offer to the state's teachers after months of negotiations.
Under the proposed three-year agreement, teachers would get a pay rise of 8 per cent over three years, meaning every teacher would be earning a minimum of $100,000 by November 2028.
What's next?
Teachers have until Friday to vote on the offer, which the union has stopped short of recommending to its members.
In three years, every state school teacher across Queensland would earn more than $100,000 annually if a new pay deal from the government is agreed to.
The offer, made on Sunday by the state government, followed months of negotiations and 50,000 educators having walked off the job in August.
Under the proposed three-year agreement, state school teachers' pay would increase by 8 per cent.
Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek described it as a "historic" offer.
"Every teacher currently in Queensland classrooms by the end of this agreement will be earning at least $100,000.
"Senior teachers will be earning $135,000, and principals more than $200,000, so it's a significant pay increase."
Also included in the offer is a $1,000 attraction and retention payment for regional areas, $400 payments for new teachers, and $100 per night for teachers on school camps.
Teachers can now vote on the proposed agreement in a ballot which is open until Friday.
Loading...QTU president Cresta Richardson has stopped short of recommending the offer to members.
"This is a really democratic decision that we're asking our membership for," she said.
"Opening it up to everyone to duly consider it without a recommendation or whatever it might be, is a really important step for our union, and I really look forward to our members engaging in the process as to whether they vote yes in this."
If the vote fails, the government and union will go to arbitration at the Queensland Industrial Council (QIRC) in December. Further protection industrial action would then be prevented.
Ms Richardson said the union's state council will meet on Saturday to discuss next steps once the outcome of the ballot is known.
Queensland Teachers Union president Cresta Richardson said the union executive wanted members to make the decision. (ABC News: Mark Leonardi)
Other issues at play
The government has acknowledged other concerns from teachers including classroom violence and chronic understaffing, which Mr Langbroek said would be addressed.
He said the government would launch a safety taskforce once pay negotiations ended, with a goal of hearing from teachers about "about how we can make our schools safer".
Ms Richardson characterised that as a step in the right direction.
“We need to see meaningful change on this and if this final offer is to be accepted by our members, then I want to know what the timelines are around when the government is accountable about reducing occupational violence in our schools,” she said.
Mr Langbroek said there was also a plan to reduce administrative workloads for teachers which he said would "cut down on paperwork, improve efficiency and give [teachers] more time to teach".
That includes promised upgrades to IT systems to reduce administrative burdens and providing 140 Workplace Health and Safety Officers to complete risk assessments in place of teachers.