They’re the people that support our children, keep our schools safe and clean, and help educate the next generation – but they’re not worth basic, respectful negotiations, according to the Department of Education.
The Enterprise Bargaining Agreement (EBA) for teacher aides and school cleaners expired on 31 August, but despite good faith negotiations from the Union, there has been no progress on reaching an agreement.
“The Government has time to approve golf club redevelopments and pump $100 million into tourism, but not listen to the hard-working Queenslanders who spend their days supporting our children,” said United Workers Union Queensland State Secretary Gary Bullock.
“What’s more important – helping educate the next generation, or playing a round at the royal golf club?
“I urge Minister for Education John-Paul Langbroek and the Department to step up and show some respect to our teacher aides and school cleaners. Come to the table with a reasonable offer and end the uncertainty for these essential workers.”
The Union has held 23 bargaining meetings with the Department since June, with no movement or flexibility from the Department on workers’ reasonable claims on issues like job security and conditions.
Later this week, the two parties head to the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission for conciliation.
Now the Union is calling on the Department and Minister to do the right thing and support the people who keep our schools running and our children thriving.
Attributable to United Workers Union Queensland State Secretary Gary Bullock:
“At the last election, Premier David Crisafulli promised that there would be 550 more teacher aides, and better support for schools.
“By undervaluing our members, despite promising a $207 million boost to education, the Crisafulli Government shows that they have no plan to obtain 550 teacher aides, much less provide the resources required to schools to ensure that classrooms are safe and clean.
“Instead, they are simply expecting our hard-working teacher aides and cleaners to do more, with less, while undervaluing the work they do.
“Our members are some of the lowest paid government workers, and they do the incredibly important work of educating and supporting our young people and providing them a safe environment to thrive.
“Teacher aides and school cleaners are simply asking for basic EBA adjustments – fair treatment for the essential work they do.
“Our claims are about improving the wellbeing and safety of workers around issues like job security, allowances and conditions. Improving the wellbeing and safety of teacher aides and school cleaners also improves the wellbeing and safety of the students they support.
“But the Department and Minister Langbroek aren’t recognising this. They’re not interested in meeting us halfway, in fact, we don’t believe they’re interested in any meaningful negotiations at all.
“It disrespects these vital workers, and disrespects the students and families who rely on them for support.”