Last week two Government sources reportedly revealed Victorian teachers would be offered a 28 per cent pay rise over four years – but many educators slammed the proposal online, declaring it ‘garbage’ and ‘a joke’.

The union are demanding a 35 per cent pay increase for the state’s teaching workforce over three years.

Today it was announced the AEU Victorian Branch Executive had resolved to stop rolling strikes for a two-week period in order to enable “intensive negotiations to occur to maximise the best chance for an in-principal agreement to be reached”.

However, other industrial bans remain in place, including bans on answering emails from the Department of Education, providing written comments in student reports for parents, and bans on school visits by state Labor MPs.

AEU Victorian Branch president Justin Mullaly has said Victoria’s public school employees are “sick and tired of being overworked and undervalued”.

“They are being taken for granted by Premier Jacinta Allan and Education Minister Ben Carroll and will raise their voices around Victoria and significantly escalate their industrial action,” Mullaly said just before Term 2 kicked off.

The union leader has consistently reiterated that the state’s teachers are the nation’s lowest paid.

The union note that by October, experienced teachers in Victoria will be earning as much as $15,359 a year ($295 per week) less than their NSW counterparts.

Today Mullaly reported the union had “achieved strong progress” in negotiations towards delivering pay increases aligned with other states and territories for education support staff, teachers and school leaders.  

“For the AEU this means closing the percentage gap between Victorian wages and those of public education workers in NSW in 2026, with further strong increases in subsequent years,” the union leader said.

Taking to Reddit to air their thoughts on the Government’s latest offer, last week teachers urged the union and their colleagues to hold out for a better deal.

“28% is a joke, and a VERY calculated maneuver[sic] by the gov. I'd vote no on this instantly,” one posted.

“Garbage. Don't fall for it. 28% over four years would STILL leave us chasing our tails. We need to salvage teacher wages from their steep regression. This ain't it chief,” argued another.

One teacher suggested the offer was disrespectful to the profession.

“Come on Comrades, don't fall for the government's shit. This is not a good offer, and it's not offered with respect.

“28% over 4 years – what's your salary going to look like in 4 years' time? Look at your salary now, that was average in 2022 and now is just appalling. The government has money for potholes and rego discounts. Hold the line.

“Also, what about our working conditions? School funding? Miserable ES pay offer? No no no,” they posted.

Another put out a direct plea:

“Begging anyone who will be voting on the deal we take to look up expected inflation. Our last offer was below inflation and led to a huge loss in real wages. We cannot let that happen again.”