Victoria Teachers Reject 17% Pay Offer, Announce Strike Next Tuesday
Public school teachers in Victoria will walk out of classrooms next Tuesday after decisively rejecting a 17 per cent pay rise proposal from the state government. This industrial action leaves the Victorian administration scrambling to bring in retired staff and casual workers to maintain educational operations during the planned strike.
Pay Offer Details and Union Rejection
The state government, after eight months of intensive negotiations, proposed an overall 17 per cent salary increase for teachers spread over three years. Education support staff would have received a 13 per cent rise over the same period under this deal. However, the Victorian branch of the Australian Education Union rejected the offer on Monday night, declaring it insufficient to properly value the work of educational staff.
Current salary ranges in Victoria stand between $78,021 and $126,992 for teachers, with principals capable of earning up to $236,313. The rejected 17 per cent increase falls dramatically short of the union's original demand for a 35 per cent pay rise over four years.
Union Concerns and Government Response
Victorian Branch President Justin Mullaly strongly criticised the offer, stating it was "below standard" and "far below what colleagues in other states and territories currently get paid." He emphasised that the Allan Labor Government oversees Australia's lowest-funded public education system and employs the nation's lowest-paid public school teachers.
The AEU further argued that the proposed terms would exacerbate existing problems, including no cap on meetings or face-to-face teaching hours, limited overtime allowances, and the more than 12 hours of unpaid overtime public school employees already work each week.
Education Minister Ben Carroll responded by affirming his commitment to continued dialogue with the union, describing the offer as "serious" and "compelling." He confirmed schools would remain open during the strike, utilising retired teachers and casual staff, though he conceded that a normal curriculum would not be possible if the industrial action proceeds.
Broader Context and Industrial Action
Victoria is not alone in facing teacher pay negotiations. Queensland and Tasmania are currently offering eight per cent salary increases, while the Catholic education system recently proposed a 13 per cent deal. The Victorian situation has escalated to formal industrial action after a Fair Work Commission-endorsed ballot saw 98 per cent of union members voting for stop-work measures.
Union members working in Victorian public schools will cease work for 24 hours on March 24, creating significant disruption across the state's education system as both sides remain at an impasse over fair compensation for teaching professionals.
