Public school teachers, principals and education support staff, the AEU said, are being disrespected by the Allan Labor Government which has “failed to put any offer to resolve key issues of pay and workload despite many months of negotiations”.
The stop-work, planned for March 24, would be the first time in more than 13 years that public school staff have taken this step.
AEU Victorian Branch President Justin Mullaly said the decision was not taken lightly.
“The Allan Labor Government has deliberately denied Victorian public schools $2.4 billion in funding through to 2031, continuing to the make Victorian schools the lowest funded in Australia by a long way,” he said in a statement.
“Public school teachers, education support, and school leaders salaries has fallen significantly behind other states and territories and excessive workload continues to increase with school staff working an average of 12 hours unpaid overtime per week,” Mullaly said.
“It is a joke for this Government to call Victoria the ‘education state’ while disrespecting and undervaluing public school teachers, principals and education support staff.
The AEU said by October this year, teachers will be earning as much as $15,359 a year (or $295 per week) less than their NSW counterparts. A classroom based education support employee starting out would be 10.5 per cent behind, and a Victorian school principal new to the role would start $27,841 or 18 per cent behind.
“In the middle of chronic shortage of school staff, it is not possible to retain experienced, dedicated teachers, principals and support staff in the public school system – and attract the next generation – when they are being underpaid and overworked,” Mullaly said.
“The Premier and Education Minister ought to know that Victorian students are set up for success when their teachers, principals, and education support staff are supported to stay in the profession.
“We have been negotiating in good faith with the Allan Labor Government to deliver the salaries and conditions that school staff need. Their failure to come to the table with an offer is downright disrespectful.”
To make matters worse, the union explained, in December the Victorian Government signed an agreement with the Federal Government that left Victorian public schools the lowest funded in the nation and funded at the same level as in 2023.
“This is completely unacceptable and breaks Premier Allan’s promise to fully and fairly fund our schools,” Mullaly said.
“Premier Allan and her Government continue to deny public school staff the pay and conditions they need, and to deny every Victorian public school student the resources they require.
“It is time for the Premier to step up and deliver for public school staff, students and their families”.
The AEU is currently undertaking a ballot of members on whether to take protected industrial action.
If endorsed, the statewide stop-work will be held on March 24, unless the State Government puts forward an offer which addresses union members’ key pay and conditions claims.
