Victorian teachers accept pay deal after strikes, ending dispute
Consensus Summary
Victorian teachers have accepted a pay and conditions deal after months of negotiations and strikes, ending a dispute that saw three planned 24-hour walkouts. The Australian Education Union (AEU) members voted 79% in favour of the government’s offer on Monday, which includes a minimum pay increase of 28.3% over four years, a $2,000 lump-sum payment, and improved working conditions such as reduced after-school meetings and professional practice days. The deal, costing more than $5.4 billion over four years, also secures face-to-face teaching hour limits and aligns graduate teacher pay with NSW levels by October 2026. The agreement now proceeds to a vote of all employees, with endorsement expected by October, ahead of the November 28 state election. The union had originally sought a 35% pay increase over three years, but the final deal reflects a compromise after previous offers were rejected by members in May and June. The government has also pledged to fully fund public schools, addressing a key union demand. The dispute involved broader implications for Catholic school staff, who have had pay parity with public school teachers since the 1990s, and highlighted tensions between union leadership and rank-and-file members who pushed for stronger terms.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Australian Education Union (AEU) members voted 79% in favour of the government’s pay offer on Monday
- The pay deal includes a minimum pay increase of 28.3% over four years
- The deal includes a $2,000 lump-sum payment at the start of the agreement
- The agreement secures face-to-face teaching hour maximums of 18.5 hours for secondary teachers and 21 hours for primary teachers
- A third 24-hour strike scheduled for Wednesday (August 19) was called off after the vote
- The deal will cost more than $5.4 billion over four years, with an additional $700 million in the latest offer
- The agreement includes a commitment to halve after-school meeting hours from 80 to 40 hours annually
- The union had originally sought a 35% pay increase over three years, which would have meant graduate teachers started on more than $107,400 by 2028
- The government’s previous offer was rejected by 58% of members in June
- The agreement will now proceed to a vote of all employees as required under the Fair Work Act, with endorsement expected by October
- The Victorian election is scheduled for November 28
- Catholic teachers have had pay parity with Victorian public school teachers since the 1990s
- The union’s previous agreement in 2022 delivered an 8% pay rise over four years
- The deal includes four professional practice days and eight student-free days each year from 2027
- The government pledged to fully fund public schools ahead of the November election
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Justin Mullaly said 79% of members endorsed the government’s offer, and the outcome was thanks to the campaign of tens of thousands of public school staff.
- The agreement will cap after-school meeting hours at 40 per year, down from 80 hours.
- Graduate teachers will start on $96,589 from November next year, up from $79,589.
- An experienced teacher’s pay will increase from $118,063 to $151,419 by 2029, including a $15,393 boost this year.
- The union had originally sought a 35% pay increase over three years, which would have meant experienced teachers earned more than $159,300 by 2028.
- The union’s left faction voted against recommending the deal to members and called for industrial action on August 19.
- The government’s previous offer was rejected by 51% of members in June.
- The union’s joint primary and secondary sector council met on August 10 to consider the revised offer.
- The government’s previous offer was rejected by 120 of its elected council members in June.
- The agreement secures existing face-to-face teaching hour maximums in the EBA, not in a deed.
- The pay rises will be between 28.3% and 32.4% over four years, plus a $2,000 bonus at the start of the agreement.
- Early-career teachers will receive a $12,343 increase by October 2026, bringing their pay in line with NSW teachers.
- The deal includes fewer after-school meetings, four professional practice days each year, and eight student-free days each year from 2027.
- The government’s offer cost more than $5.4 billion, with the latest offer costing an additional $700 million.
- The deal removes the threat of further strikes before the November election.
- A rank-and-file rebellion inside the AEU, including groups like Socialists in Schools, helped shape the outcome.
- The last enterprise bargaining agreement, signed in 2022, delivered an 8% pay rise over four years.
- The union rejected the government’s offer in June by 51%.
- The union rejected the government’s offer in May by 58%.
- The government’s offer in May improved from 18.5% to 28% over four years but separated out education support staff.
- The union’s previous agreement in 2022 delivered an 8% pay rise over four years, well below inflation.
- The revised pay deal will now go to all employees for a vote, with endorsement expected by about October.
- The deal guarantees pay rises of at least 28.3% for the state's public school staff, with a range between 28.3% and 32.4% over four years.
- The agreement includes improvements to working conditions, such as reducing the number of meetings teachers must attend and providing professional practice days.
- The government’s revised pay offer was handed down last week, promising pay rises between 28.3% and 32.4% over four years.
- The union’s left faction did not recommend the deal to members, and a third strike was scheduled for August 19.
- The government’s previous offer was rejected by 58% of teachers and education staff in June, against union recommendations.
- The agreement will cost taxpayers between $5 and $5.5 billion over four years.
- The union’s vote was 79% in favour, with 83% of members participating.
Where the reporting differs
Details that conflict, or appear in only some outlets:
- The Guardian says the pay rises are between 28.3% and 32.4% over four years, while The Age and ABC mention a minimum of 28.3% without specifying the upper limit in all cases.
- The Guardian states the deal includes four professional practice days and eight student-free days each year from 2027, while The Age and ABC do not mention the exact number of student-free days.
- The Guardian says the government’s offer in May improved from 18.5% to 28% over four years, but The Age does not specify this exact improvement in its phrasing.
- The Guardian mentions a rank-and-file rebellion inside the AEU, including groups like Socialists in Schools, as a key factor in the outcome, while The Age and ABC do not emphasize this aspect.
Source Articles
‘Congratulations, well done’: Third strike called off as teachers back pay deal
Union members have voted to accept the government’s latest pay offer and end a year-long standoff.
Victorian teachers are to be the best paid in Australia. A union rebellion helped seal the deal
Salaries will rise 28.3% to 32.4% over four years, an outcome partly shaped by a rank-and-file revolt within the Australian Education Union Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Victoria’s school teachers are to become the highest paid in the country, after accepting the state government’s latest pay and conditions offer after a year-long bargaining process. Australian Education Union (AEU) members voted 79% in favour
Teachers offered $2000 sign-on bonus as Labor fights to stop third strike
The latest pay offer is the first from the new Education Minister who has been tasked with striking a deal before a proposed 24-hour stop work action.
Victorian teachers vote in favour of new pay deal after months-long dispute
The Australian Education Union says 79 per cent of its members voted to endorse the latest pay offer from the government.
Victorian teachers to vote on new pay offer before strike
The new pay offer includes a $2,000 lump-sum payment if they agree to the deal, which would head off a third statewide strike.
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