Public school teachers in Victoria are set to strike again after negotiations with the state government over pay and working conditions reached an impasse. The Australian Education Union (AEU) announced that a fresh statewide strike will take place next week, following the government's failure to address key concerns.
The AEU has been advocating for a 35% pay increase over four years, citing that Victorian teachers earn approximately $300 less than their counterparts in New South Wales and work an average of 12 hours of unpaid overtime weekly. Despite these demands, the state government has offered a 17% pay rise over the same period, which the union has rejected as insufficient.
The ongoing dispute has already led to significant disruptions, with tens of thousands of educators participating in industrial action on July 23. The union has indicated that further strikes and bans on additional duties, such as responding to department emails and working unpaid overtime, remain on the table if the deadlock continues.
The Victorian government has called on the AEU to call off the strike and return to the negotiating table. The outcome of these negotiations will significantly impact the state's education system, affecting teachers, students, and families across Victoria.