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Questioning the adequacy of the government's offer

Published July 22, 2026 at 9:03 PM UTC

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For many Victorian educators, the government's latest pay offer fails to address the fundamental crisis facing the public school system. While the proposed 28.3 percent salary increase over four years may appear significant on paper, critics argue it does not account for the reality of the current workload or the widening pay gap compared to other states. Teachers report that they are consistently stretched thin, often working 12 hours of unpaid overtime every week just to keep up with administrative demands and classroom requirements.

Beyond salary, the union and its members are calling for systemic changes that the current government proposal ignores. This includes demands for smaller class sizes and more robust mental health and classroom support. Educators point out that without these structural reforms, a pay increase alone will not solve the high rates of burnout or the difficulty in attracting and retaining experienced staff. Many teachers feel that the government's rhetoric about Victoria being the 'education state' is contradicted by what they describe as a multi-billion dollar funding shortfall in public schools.

There is also a deep-seated frustration regarding the negotiation process itself. Many union members feel that their concerns have been sidelined for months, leading to a sense that the government is more interested in avoiding a strike than in genuinely improving the quality of education. The decision to reject the agreement by a majority vote reflects a broader determination among staff to hold the government accountable for the long-term health of the public school system, rather than accepting a deal that they believe locks in stagnant conditions.

Ultimately, the strike is seen as a necessary last resort to force the government to take the needs of educators and students seriously. Critics of the government's position argue that the cost of inaction—measured in teacher turnover and declining student support—is far higher than the cost of meeting the union's demands. They maintain that until the government addresses the root causes of the workload crisis and provides adequate funding, industrial action will remain a vital tool for ensuring that public education remains sustainable and effective.