Public and Catholic school teachers continue bargaining into term 3

VICTORIAN public and Catholic school teachers are continuing their fight for improved working conditions into term 3.

Both groups, represented by the Australian Education Union (AEU) and Independent Education Union (IEU), have been without agreements since last year.

Negotiations between the state government and the AEU resumed on Tuesday after union members rejected an in-principle agreement reached earlier this year.

“Victorian public schools remain the lowest funded in the country, with the state government deciding to cut $2.4 billion through to 2031,” AEU Victorian branch president Justin Mullaly said.

“This has significant implications for students and for the workloads and associated conditions of our members.

“The state government’s May offer did not go far enough to address the concerns of the majority of union members and now the government must come back with a revised offer that addresses the needs of Victorian teachers, education support employees and principals.”

Last week, the AEU formally notified the Department of Education that work bans and limitations would resume from Monday 13 July – the first day of term 3.

The measures include a ban on preparing written comments for student reports, refusing attendance at certain meetings, a ban on responding to non-urgent departmental emails and pausing the implementation of new government initiatives.

Meanwhile, the Fair Work Commission has heard the IEU’s application for a single interest authorisation, which would allow Catholic school employees to bargain collectively across employers and restore access to protected industrial action if approved.

Negotiations are continuing in both sectors, with teachers seeking improved pay, reduced workloads and better working conditions.