Strikes won't close Qld catholic schools

Queensland Catholic schools will stay open on Thursday despite full-day strikes across the state by most teachers.

More than 8500 Independent Education Union staff at 242 schools have been authorised to stop work on Thursday over a long-running wage dispute.

However, the Queensland Catholic Education Commission (QCEC) says its member schools will all remain open, even though classes are expected to be disrupted.

QCEC said select schools have asked parents to keep children at home if possible.

"Some schools will offer limited programs or supervision but we have been told that all will be open, which is important to minimise disruption to parents and students," QCEC executive director Dr Lee-Anne Perry said.

The only closures will be at five flexible learning centres, part of the Edmund Rice Education Australia network.

The eighth stop-work action is the largest since the March last year.

Group rallies will be held in 11 cities across the state on Thursday, including at Brisbane's Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The union, which is negotiating for a 3.25 per cent pay increase, claims Queensland teachers at the high end of the scale receive $6700 less annually than similarly experienced NSW teachers, an argument the QCEC has rejected.

QCEC has offered an annual wage increase of 2.5 per cent, a move it says is in line with recent pay increases given to state teachers.