Class not in session: teachers to strike after wage dispute

Victorian public school teachers will stop work on 24 March after union members voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action. Photo: Supplied

Public school teachers will walk off the job for 24 hours next week after 98 per cent of union members voted to take strike action for the first time in almost two decades.

Victorian Australian Education Union (AEU) members will stop work on 24 March. The Fair Work Commission approved the action following eight months of failed negotiations between the union and the state government.

The action will mark the first statewide stop-work by Victorian public school teachers, principals and education support staff in almost two decades.

Justin Mullaly, AEU Victorian branch president, said members had been left with no choice after receiving no offer during the negotiation period.

“This decision has not been taken lightly and we keenly understand the impact this can have on parents, but we have arrived here because the Allan Labor government is continuing to disrespect public school teachers, principals and support staff by not putting any offer on the table, let alone a decent one,” Mullaly said.

“The Victorian government has deliberately denied Victorian public schools $2.4 billion in funding through to 2031, cementing our schools as the lowest funded in Australia by a long way.

“It is a joke for this government to call Victoria the ‘education state’, when teachers, principals and support staff continue to be undervalued and underpaid.”

Following the confirmation of strike action, the state government proposed an 8 per cent pay rise for teachers and principals and a 4 per cent pay rise for education support staff, with a 3 per cent rise across the next three years.

Members voted to request the offer, pushing forward with stop-work action in hopes of a better deal.

Union figures indicate Victorian teachers will earn $15,359 less than their New South Wales counterparts by October 2026. Educators are also reportedly working an average of 12 hours of unpaid overtime each week.

Parents are encouraged to contact their local school to confirm arrangements ahead of 24 March.