Education minister canes teachers’ union bosses
The Queensland Teachers Union leadership was criticised by Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek over their role in negotiations following last month’s protests outside Parliament House.
Mr Langbroek said in Parliament today the QTU didn’t directly involve themselves in negotiations over the Enterprise Bargaining Agreement either before or after the protest.
“There was a rally outside the parliament at which they asked us to look at these EB negotiations and to take more urgent action,” Mr Langbroek said.
“There have been 28 meetings about negotiations on this enterprise bargain and the president and the general secretary of the union has been at not one those meetings.
“So I ask teachers around this state whether the representation they are getting from their union leaders is appropriate.”
But QTU deputy general secretary Kate Ruttiman said members of the QTU were present at all meetings.
“A senior officer of the QTU has attended every meeting of the Single Bargaining Unit; as the lead negotiator I have attended the vast majority of them,” Ms Ruttiman said in a letter published in the Courier-Mail.
“As senior officers, we are elected to advocate on behalf of the 44,000 teachers and principal members of the QTU.”
Has the Minister attended any of the negotiations? Has the Director General attended any negotiations. I’d love to know.
Speaking as a QTU member I simply ask the question: would the QTU have our massive membership density of around 96% of all teachers if the union was poorly run? The answer is obvious. The LNP government may well currently have a strong mandate to govern in Queensland, but the QTU’s membership figures give my Union’s leaders a strong mandate to negotiate on behalf of me and my union colleagues. It is to be stressed, however, that they only negotiate having consulted the membership both through direct ballots and through representative democratic structures including executive and our state council. Queenland Teachers’ Union members all know it was the Premier and Minister who stalled their negotiators, got their insulting offer sternly rebuked by 91% of teachers who voted and now waste taxpayers money and time by trying to wedge my union. That shan’t be happening.
Mr Langbroek and Mr Newman, how many have you attended? Of the number that have been held (with or without your presence), how many were held before an offer was put on the table by the government? How many of these meetings have you directly responded to the log of claims from the union? Given your local member in Cook advised me (through the officer working in his office) that he wouldn’t be any help with this EB because “Mr Kempton is not directly involved with Industrial Relations or Teachers, so wouldn’t be able to offer anything”, I wonder what sort of government you are leading. I look forward to a response from someone in this government. My local member hasn’t responded at all with me directly (only through other workers in his office), and I don’t receive anything from the Premier or Mr Langbroek. Just curiuous who is representing me in this government? And if they can’t listen to those who I elect in my union to represent the noblest interests in the most important futures orientated position in the public service, when will you ask me?
The article states that the QTU Deputy General Secretary has attended every meeting of the Single Bargaining Unit. Has the Deputy Premier attended any of the meetings? I hope the Premier isn’t a hypocrite.
In answer to the minister’s question on “whether the representation they are getting from their union leaders is appropriate,” as a QTU member, I have full confidence in Ms Ruttiman as the lead negotiator, to represent me. As an elected senior officer of the QTU she is doing a fantastic job in difficult circumstances, advocating on my and 44000 members’ behalf!
As a QTU member, I am disturbed at the Education Minister’s lack of understanding of how the negotiation process works. The representation I get in these discussions is excellent. I don’t expect the President and General Secretary to be present, any more than anyone expects the Minister, Premier or Director General to be present. JPL really needs to get across some subjects specifically and his portfolio generally, before he comments on anything again.
Negotiation means the mutual discussion and arrangement of the terms of a transaction or agreement.
Bargaining occurs to reach an agreement between parties settling what each shall give and take. The Newman Government has done neither in the process necessary for a new EB for teachers in Queensland.
The LNP Government continually returns to the meetings with the Queensland Teachers’ Union and refuses to either negotiate or bargain. The Newman’s LNP continues to put the same unacceptable offer on the table as a ‘take it as a package’ deal or not at all. The Qld Government HAS NOT negotiated or bargained in any shape or form, and certainly not in a fair way, or in good faith. Good faith flies out the window when plain bullying tactics are used, and the LNP Government is making moves to further deny teachers their industrial rights to protected industrial action. The removal and loss of the professional and industrial conditions, which the Newman is demanding as part of their EB offer, will impact directly on students in our schools as well as the way teachers’ deliver the curriculum. Get real Campbell …negotiate and bargain in the true meaning of the words!
Mr Langbroek please don’t use your divisive tactics on our intelligent, informed Queensland teachers. You are not leading anyone up the garden path! Queensland teachers will not be fooled by your ill advised rhetoric. Stop playing games and negotiate with the QTU team that 44000 teachers back.
It is not the President’s or General Secretary’s role to negotiate the EB. the union has specialist advocates to carry out the process of negotiation and any legal processes in the IR commission. Kate Ruttiman is highly experienced in the negotiations of teacher EB’s and is highly competent in that role as is the rest of the team.
Why does the Government not want to negotiate with us! We have ben doing so since the last agreement finished and they have not turned up to many meetings. Do not blame our representatives for any of the governments shortfallings.
As a QTU member, I am becoming increasingly alarmed at the misinformation and brinkmanship this newly elected State Government is engaging in.
For the Minister to ask whether State Teachers are getting appropriate representation from their Union, is missing the point. I would remind the Minister, that Queensland Teachers are the Union: we appoint democratically, the QTU Senior executive to represent us; we decide on what issues need resolving and we, as a united body, have full faith in our Senior Executive negotiators. They represent us, and they do so well.
The media campaign by the Government has gone beyond patronising. Teachers are teachers because they are intelligent caring professionals. I would recommend to the Minister that he reflects on what bargaining in ‘good faith’ actually means. It does not involve politicising or ideology. It does not involve communications that attempt to divide and conquer, what he may not understand is a strong and united organisation. It involves honest, transparent bargaining.
Is this State Government willing to come to the table and in good faith, listen to Queensland State Teachers?
As a member of the QTU I understand that Ms Ruttiman is my representative at the bargaining table. I have every faith in her expertise. Unfortunately for my colleagues and I there doesn’t seem to be any bargaining happening. The current governments take it ot leave it approach is not negotiation, it is bullying. Do they understand that there are many issues besides money that need to be discussed. Dismissing all our claims without due consideration will not improve educational outcomes for children in any way.
Which side is bargaining for a better education for our children? Why should the government raise the salaries of less than competent teachers? Why should teachers demand more than what is considered fair recompense for the job they do?
When ALL children leave Grade 12 with literacy and numeracy at world standards then – and only then – should teachers expect the public to fund higher salaries for them. Too many 19 year-old tertiary students require remedial literacy or numeracy tutoring to meet the basic standards required by employers.
Forget bargaining for wages – both sides should commit to a better quality education for our children.
As a member of the QTU’s State Council I publicly declare my complete faith in Kate Seed, Deputy General Secretary of my union, to negotiate on my behalf.
Kate has a proud history of standing up for teachers. Kate understands the challenges of my profession.
The Premier and Minister could learn a great deal about education from Kate Seed, and they could learn even more about respecting the workforce.
Kate Seed, thank you for your strength in standing up to the bullying of these two men.
As a member of the QTU’s State Council I publicly declare my complete faith in Kate Ruttiman, Deputy General Secretary of my union, to negotiate on my behalf.
Kate has a proud history of standing up for teachers. Kate understands the challenges of my profession.
The Premier and Minister could learn a great deal about education from Kate Ruttiman, and they could learn even more about respecting the workforce.
Kate Ruttiman, thank you for your strength in standing up to the bullying of these two men.