Queensland Teachers Stage First Statewide Strike in 16 Years Over Working Conditions and Support

Queensland's public school educators will participate in their first statewide strike in nearly two decades this Wednesday. The state's teachers' union has advised parents to keep their children home from primary and secondary schools for the day. While media outlets have often framed this as a dispute over salaries, teachers emphasize that the core issues involve unsafe working environments, excessive workloads, and insufficient resources. Why are educators striking? Data indicates an average of 119 violent incidents occur daily in Queensland schools. Teachers report being assaulted, kicked, or spat on by students, with little support from school administrations. Since 2018, inclusion policies have introduced students with complex needs into mainstream classrooms, bringing benefits but also increasing challenges. The expansion has not been matched with additional support, leading to strained resources. How common are such strikes? This is a rare event; Queensland teachers last organized a full-day statewide walkout in 2009. Nationwide, large-scale teacher actions are uncommon but have occurred, such as in New South Wales in 2021 and potential strikes in Victoria over pay negot...