Queensland teacher strike looms as Government seeks conciliation

The Queensland Government has referred its stalled enterprise bargaining agreement (EBA) negotiations with the Queensland Teachers’ Union (QTU) to the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission (QIRC), triggering a conciliation process aimed at averting widespread disruption to the state’s education system.

Despite this move, the QTU has confirmed a 24‑hour strike on Wednesday, 6 August 2025, after more than 36,000 members voted to take industrial action, the first strike by Queensland teachers in 16 years.

Minister for Education John‑Paul Langbroek said the government remains committed to negotiating in good faith, describing the latest EBA offer as a “significant investment” in Queensland’s teaching workforce.

The proposal includes annual pay rises of 3 per cent in 2025, followed by 2.5 per cent in 2026 and 2027, with conditional Consumer Price Index Uptake (CUA) payments. It also introduces new measures to improve working conditions, such as:

• a fixed additional student‑free day from 2026 to support planning and professional learning
• a third step for Experienced Senior Teacher classification and equalised progression for graduates
• a $400 commencement payment for beginning teachers
• increased allowances for school camp participation
• the ability to cash out unused leave in rural and remote areas
• consolidated pay arrangements for community and assistant teachers in First Nations communities

Alongside negotiations, the government has invested in initiatives including the Behaviour Boost program to improve classroom environments, an Anti‑Bullying Action Plan, additional health and safety staff, new school infrastructure, and more classroom support personnel.

QTU President Cresta Richardson said the offer does not address long‑standing concerns about workload, occupational violence, and pay parity with interstate counterparts.

The union argues that without meaningful reform, Queensland teachers will remain among the lowest‑paid nationally by the end of the proposed agreement. It has pledged to escalate action if conciliation fails to deliver significant improvements.

The planned strike is expected to disrupt schooling for more than 560,000 students across Queensland. Schools will remain open, but with only basic supervision provided by non‑union staff. Families have been urged to keep children at home where possible, prompting many parents to arrange emergency care or take leave from work.

The QIRC conciliation process is underway, with both parties expected to present their positions in the coming weeks; however, if no agreement is reached, the QTU has indicated it may escalate industrial action beyond the planned 6 August strike, while the government continues to stress its commitment to a fair outcome that balances teacher demands with budget constraints.

Read Minister for Education John-Paul Langbroek’s media statement here.