Queensland teachers strike for second day amid stalemate over arbitration

Tuesday, 25 November 2025 14:22

Teachers across Queensland state schools are on strike again today after the government refused to meet the union's arbitration conditions.

The Queensland Teacher's Union has rejected a three-year eight per cent pay offer, saying it won't properly address the state's teacher shortage caused by workload, occupational violence and aggression.

This is the second full-day strike by QTU members this year.

"We're running out of teachers and time to prevent a significant change in how state schools function," QTU president Cresta Richardson said.

"The issues are being downplayed and ignored."

"Our members won't let this continue."

All Queensland schools are open today, with the exception of those closed due to storm damage, but with reduced staff as demonstrations and rallies are held across the state from Cairns in the north, through the regions to Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

Arbitration talks at the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission will automatically begin on December 31.

The union claims it had requested a meeting with either Premier David Crisafulli or Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek to request narrowing the matters to be discussed at arbitration, as well as an interim three per cent salary increase.

"Parents can thank the premier for this strike," Richardson said.

"We could have communicated and agreed to the very basic, reasonable request we had for arbitration and that would have stopped this strike."

Langbroek said the government was keen to begin the arbitration process.

"We don't have to wait until the end of December to begin that arbitration process," Langbroek said.

"That's why we're expressing our disappointment that this industrial action today is not going to make any difference in the process.

"We had a very clear offer that was negotiated over numerous meetings between the union and the government."

The strike comes just weeks before the end of the school year.

Langbroek said 109 Queensland schools had year 10 and 11 exams planned for today.

9News understands more than half have had to reschedule those assessments.

Year 11 results contribute to the students' senior grade.

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