Teachers from almost 60 schools in Logan will strike this week for the first time in 16 years as reports of burnout and occupational violence grow.
And despite schools remaining open, union members are asking parents to keep their children at home on Wednesday.
Hundreds of schools across Queensland, including all of Logan’s state schools, will be impacted by the 24-hour strike planned for Wednesday.
Members of the Queensland Teachers Union (QTU) are calling on the state government to increase teachers’ pay as local schools battle what they have labelled a “teacher shortage crisis”.
The union argues teachers are facing “breaking point” with increasing workloads and burnout due to staff losses.
One local primary school teacher, who asked not to be named, said teachers were quitting because other careers offered less responsibility and less risk “for more reward”.
“Whilst my school does not suffer from a lack of full time classroom teachers, lots of our neighbouring schools do,” she said.
“We have a massive shortage of reliable relief teachers which has a chain reaction because when there are not reliable relief teachers, there is more work for full time classroom teachers, which can lead directly to teacher burn out.”
Wednesday’s strike will mark the QTU’s first industrial action since 2009.
While mass teacher shortages are expected on the day, the education department has confirmed schools will remain open.
The Minister for Education, John-Paul Langbroek, said student safety would remain the priority and principals would inform parents of any impacts.
The union has advised parents to keep children home or find alternative arrangements, if possible.
In a ballot, around 95% of union members voted in favour of walking off the job, according to QTU.
Mr Langbroek said the government had met with the union 17 times over the last five months and remained “at the table” to finalise an agreement.
“… to support and resource our teachers,” he said.
“The government has requested conciliation through the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission to progress an agreement.”
In June, the QTU rejected the government’s offer to lift salaries by 8% over the next three years, claiming the deal would see teachers be among the lowest paid in the country by the third year.
QTU general secretary Kate Ruttiman said last week that the government’s response was “just not good enough”, particularly with growing burnout, occupational violence and aggression.
The local primary teacher said she dealt with students who swear, punch, hit and throw furniture at staff.
“It is a genuine issue, going to school everyday being hit, screamed at, spat on, ignored, chased around the classroom, and being fearful of students’ physical and verbal actions.
“I have not personally experienced a complete burn out but it is a constant feeling of exhaustion when I am required to teach these children with large behavioural issues, and many teaching staff have no support on how to teach them.”
She said expectations were at an “all time high” for teachers to tailor the curriculum to each individual student.
“… with the resources we have, it is impossible,” she said.
“I have a classroom full of students with at least two or three students at any given time who require full one-to-one interactions or attention from me – this takes up a lot of time.
“Whilst I am not literally burnt out, I do feel tired all the time knowing I have to deal with these students and there is no light at the end of the tunnel for their progress and positive change.”
QTU president Cresta Richardson said teachers were at “breaking point” and needed nation-leading salaries now to prevent more staff losses.
“Make no mistake, this is not a teachers’ pay issue, this is a whole of community issue – ensuring enough qualified people are in our schools teaching and guiding students.
“The offers put on the table do little to address the teacher shortage crisis or ensure safe workplaces for our members and learning places for our students.”
