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The Teachers’ Professional Association of Queensland (TPAQ) protests the State Government’s greedy and cruel disciplinary actions against teachers, and the violation of their human rights for choice of representation in the Industrial Relations Commission.
IN THE WEEK BEGINNING Monday 8 August the office of the Minister for Education, Grace Grace, sent letters to State-employed teachers across Queensland condemning them to 18 weeks’ financial penalty. This was written by Education Department Assistant Director General Anne Crowley and emailed to staff.
After helping the struggling education system survive the initial phases of the pandemic, these teachers were unceremoniously stood down without pay in December 2021, costing them over $20,000. Many hardworking teachers lost mortgages, marriages and mental health. In June 2022, unvaccinated Queensland teachers were welcomed back into the workforce, after the mandates were dropped. This time, they were called upon for another crisis, to help lift the State out of a crippling teacher shortage. These teachers are now being penalized a second time, for the ‘same crime’ by having their pay docked a further 18 weeks. This was without consideration of their current financial burdens; this is discrimination and a human rights issue. The Government still wants them in the classroom, doing the same work, just for less pay. It’s vindictive, greedy and cruel.
The Assistant Director General, Anne Crowley, has said the department has "lost trust" and these teachers have "acted inappropriately" by not following the public health advice. The letter sent to Teachers further outlined “Your conduct in failing to comply with the direction posed a risk to the health and safety of your co-workers, students and members of the public which was mitigated only by the steps taken by the department to suspend you from duty.”
The Teachers’ Professional Association of Queensland opposes the discriminatory treatment of not only our members but all unvaccinated teachers who have been affected by this disciplinary action. It is evident that this is a compliance issue, not a health issue. TPAQ State Secretary Tracy Tully has stated that “TPAQ has a plan to take legal action against the department of Education”. Teaching is a noble profession, and teachers need to be respected within the workplace, it’s time for the discrimination and bullying to end and have our teacher’s rights restored.
Further exacerbating the issue of workers' rights is the attempt by the Labor government to pass the Industrial Relations and Other Legislation Amendment Bill.
TPAQ State Secretary Tracy Tully, speaking to a crowd of over 1000 people gathered outside Queensland Parliament House, said that this bill “limits people’s rights to representation through the Industrial Relations Commission and Courts”. The TPAQ views this as being unacceptable and believes it is aimed at pushing out Independent Unions like TPAQ. Ms Tully stated, “we are confident they won’t as we have a plan, we are five steps ahead and we are well and truly in the game”.
The Teachers Professional Association Queensland is an independent Union with no political affiliation which represents workers' rights. We do so at approximately half the price of legacy unions and offer a choice for those who want quality, non-political representation at a more affordable price.