No Deal: School Strike Goes Ahead

Victorian public school teachers will proceed with a statewide 24-hour strike on 23 July after Australian Education Union (AEU) Victorian Branch members rejected the Allan Labor Government’s latest pay and conditions offer.

The online ballot saw 51.18 per cent of members vote against the proposal, with 48.82 per cent in favour.

More than 50,677 members participated, representing 90.2 per cent of eligible voters.

The result means industrial action announced last week will go ahead, with teachers and education support staff set to stop work and march to Parliament as enterprise agreement negotiations remain deadlocked.

AEU Victorian Branch President Justin Mullaly said the vote sent a clear message that public schools need greater funding.

“AEU members have been telling the Victorian Labor Government for years that the under-resourcing of public schools in Victoria is making their work untenable.

“When just 3 in 10 public school teachers plan to stay working in public schools in Victoria, it is obvious there is a problem.

“This government says this is the education state. But this can’t be the case when this government has deliberately ripped $2.4 billion out of our public schools.

“Why are teachers, school leaders and education support staff working an average 12 hours unpaid overtime every week if this is truly the education state?

“Premier Allan and Education Minister Ben Carroll, fix your public school funding mess and put a pay and conditions offer on the table that properly respects the work of AEU members.”

The union has previously rejected the State Government’s proposed 28 per cent pay increase over four years, arguing it falls short of its claim for a 35 per cent increase.

Teachers and education support staff will gather at Bourke Street Mall from 10.30am on 23 July before marching to Parliament House.