Welford 'disappointed' over teacher strike
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The Education Minister says a planned walkout of more than 500 teachers from classrooms in remote far north Queensland next week will not achieve anything.
The Queensland Teachers' Union says its members are frustrated by poor accommodation standards in the region.
But Rod Welford says he is disappointed that teachers are planning more industrial action.
"The Teachers' Union is entitled and teachers are entitled to exercise their democratic right to strike but it is not a positive or productive initiative in the context of the genuine effort that I and the Department are making to address the maintenance issues in their accommodation," he said.
Mr Welford has urged the union to call off the strike.
"Obviously I'm disappointed that teachers would take strike action just at a time when I'm investing more effort than ever in addressing the maintenance issues in remote communities throughout the state," he said.
"I'm investing another $400,000 in increasing the number of scheduled maintenance visits to these communities and I've doubled the budget for teacher accommodation to $10 million this year."
