Victorian public school teachers are set to walk off the job for 24 hours on Thursday, July 23, marking their second statewide strike this year. The industrial action, confirmed by the Australian Education Union (AEU) Victorian branch, follows a breakdown in negotiations with the Allan Labor government over a new enterprise agreement. In addition to the strike, union members have implemented a ban on performing unpaid overtime, a move intended to highlight the significant extra hours staff currently contribute to maintain school operations.
The dispute centers on a rejected pay and conditions offer that the state government presented in May. That proposal included salary increases of between 28 and 32 per cent over four years, which the government described as a path to making Victorian teachers the best-paid in the country. However, in a June vote, 57.7 per cent of AEU members rejected the deal, despite initial support from union leadership. Teachers have argued that the offer fails to adequately address systemic issues, including chronic underfunding, excessive workloads, and the need for better classroom support.
Union officials, including AEU Victorian Branch President Justin Mullaly, have stated that teachers are working an average of 12 hours of unpaid overtime every week. They contend that the current funding model relies too heavily on the goodwill of staff rather than sustainable investment. The union is calling for a revised offer that provides more meaningful improvements to working conditions, such as smaller class sizes and greater flexibility, rather than focusing solely on headline pay figures.
The state government has expressed disappointment regarding the strike, urging the union to return to the negotiating table to minimize disruption for families. Education Minister Ben Carroll has maintained that the government values its educators and that the rejected deal would have provided significant improvements. As the July 23 strike date approaches, parents are being advised to prepare for potential school disruptions, as many institutions may only be able to provide limited supervision for students.