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Victorian Government School Teachers Engage in Industrial Action Over Pay Dispute

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Teachers, principals, and support staff across Victorian government schools are escalating industrial action after a proposed pay deal was rejected by union members in a June 2026 vote.

Here is a structured, readable breakdown of the dispute, key events, and the positions of both sides.

Victorian Teachers' Pay Dispute: A Comprehensive Overview

Key Events Timeline

December 2024

  • Internal Union Elections: A reform group campaigning for tougher industrial action secured 37% of the vote in internal AEU elections.

March 2026

  • Statewide Strike (March 24): Approximately 35,000 educators participated in the first full-day statewide strike in 13 years. They marched through Melbourne's CBD to Parliament House.
  • Government Offer Rejected: The AEU leadership rejected a reported government offer of 17% over four years, calling it "totally unacceptable."

April 2026

  • Negotiations Resume: Talks restart on April 10.
  • Rolling Strikes Announced: The AEU announces plans for rolling half-day stoppages across different regions, beginning May 4. Teachers also implement work bans, including not writing report comments and not responding to department emails.
  • Private School Action: Teachers at Lauriston Girls' School begin industrial action after rejecting a 9% offer over three years.

May-June 2026

  • Rolling Strikes Begin: Half-day strikes commence on May 6 on a rotating regional basis. Protests are held outside the electorate offices of Labor MPs, including Education Minister Ben Carroll and Premier Jacinta Allan.
  • Increased Government Offer: Reports emerge of a new offer: 28% over four years, later detailed as between 28% and 32% depending on the role.

June 2026

  • In-Principle Agreement Reached: The AEU Victorian branch announces an in-principle agreement with the state government, including pay rises of 28% to 32% over four years and three additional student-free days. Union leadership recommends acceptance.
  • Membership Vote (June 23): Members vote 57.7% to 42.3% to reject the proposed agreement.

Pay Negotiation Status: What Was on the Table?

Stage Offer Notes Union's Original Demand 35% over three years For all members. Government's Initial Offer 17% over four years Plus 1.5% overtime allowance. Government's Revised Offer 28% over four years Later refined to 28-32% depending on role. In-Principle Agreement 28% to 32% over four years Plus three student-free days. Rejected by members.

Key Demands & Points of Contention

  • Pay & Salary Parity: The AEU argues Victorian teachers are the lowest-paid in Australia, citing a gap of over $10,000 to $15,000 per year compared to New South Wales.
  • Working Conditions: Concerns center on excessive workloads, staff shortages, and unpaid overtime. A 2025 study found a majority of Australian teachers describe their workload as unmanageable.
  • School Funding: The union criticizes the government's decision to delay increasing public school funding to 75% of the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS) from 2028 to 2031, calling it a $2.4 billion shortfall.
  • Disparity for Support Staff: A major point of contention is the different pay offers for education support staff (e.g., classroom assistants). While teachers were offered up to 32%, support staff were reportedly offered 13% plus overtime allowance.

Government Position

  • Premier Jacinta Allan: States the government wants a pay rise for teachers, describing the offers as "significant and fair." She urges the union to continue negotiating.
  • Education Minister Ben Carroll: Expresses a commitment to reaching a deal, calling the offers "compelling and competitive."
  • Department Spokesperson: States negotiations are "accelerating" and the government is meeting with the union more frequently.

"The government has urged the union to keep students in the classroom."

Union Position

  • Justin Mullaly (AEU Victorian Branch President): States the industrial action reflects the government's "failure to deliver on pay, conditions, and school funding." After the rejection, he says the union's council will meet to discuss next steps, and further escalation is not ruled out.

"The industrial action reflects the government's failure to deliver on pay, conditions, and school funding."
— Justin Mullaly, AEU Victorian Branch President

Impact on Schools

  • March 24 Strike: An estimated 35,000 educators participated. Hundreds of schools cancelled classes or operated with limited supervision.
  • Planned Rolling Strikes: The half-day strikes affected morning classes on a rotating regional basis. Some protests targeted the electorate offices of Labor MPs.

Union Membership

Union organizers report that AEU membership grew to over 60,000 during the current negotiations, up from less than 42,000 previously.

Salary Comparisons (Victoria vs. New South Wales)

Role Victoria New South Wales Graduate Teacher $78,801 $90,177 Experienced Teacher (Top of Scale) $118,000 Rising to over $151,000 Principal $156,335 $178,812

Opposition Response

  • Brad Rowswell (Shadow Education Minister): Criticizes the government's handling of negotiations, stating that "Labor's approach has led to the threat of further strikes." He adds teachers deserve a fair pay rise and the government needs to settle the deal urgently.

Context: Tasmanian Teacher Strike

Teachers in Tasmanian public schools also engaged in strike action in March/April 2026. The AEU Tasmania branch announced rolling strikes over a government offer of 3% in the first year, 3% in the second, and 2.75% in the third. Unresolved issues include a clause regarding "right-sizing the workforce" and workload concerns.