Victorian public school teachers and principals staging first strike in 13 years over pay and conditions
Consensus Summary
Thousands of Victorian public school teachers, principals, and education support staff are staging a 24-hour strike on March 24, 2026, marking the first statewide walkout in 13 years. The Australian Education Union (AEU) is leading the action after rejecting the state governmentâs 17-18.5% pay offer, demanding a 35% pay rise over three to four years alongside reduced workloads and better mental health support. The strike follows eight months of negotiations and was approved by the Fair Work Commission after 98% of AEU members voted in favor. Up to 500 schools are expected to close or operate with skeleton staff, with many only supervising children of emergency workers. The Victorian government insists schools will remain open but acknowledges limited supervision capacity. Premier Jacinta Allan urged teachers to abandon the strike, calling it disruptive, while the AEU argues the governmentâs offer fails to address teachersâ pay and conditions. Principals, including those from the Australian Principals Federation, have joined the opposition, citing unsustainable workloads and the complexity of school leadership. Parents and unions have expressed mixed support, with some acknowledging the strikeâs validity but facing challenges managing childcare on the day.
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Key details reported by multiple sources:
- The Australian Education Union (AEU) is leading a 24-hour strike on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, involving tens of thousands of Victorian public school teachers, principals, and education support staff
- The strike is the first in the Victorian public school system since 2013 (13 years)
- The AEU rejected the state governmentâs 17% pay offer (18.5% in some sources) over four years, demanding a 35% pay rise over three or four years
- The Fair Work Commission approved the strike after 98% of AEU members voted in favor of industrial action
- Up to 500 government schools in Victoria are expected to be closed or significantly disrupted due to the strike
- The Victorian government insists schools will remain open on March 24, but many will only provide supervision for a limited number of students (e.g., children of emergency workers)
- The Australian Principals Federation (APF) formally joined the opposition to the governmentâs pay offer on March 20, 2026, though not all principals are striking
- The strike involves approximately 30,000 AEU members across Victoriaâs public education system
- Premier Jacinta Allan urged teachers to abandon the strike, calling it disruptive for families and arguing the governmentâs offer is strong
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- The Australian Principals Federation (APF) president Andrew Cock stated that principals are responsible for managing complex school operations, including staff, escalating student needs, and compliance obligations, while remaining accountable for educational outcomes
- The Education Department asked principals and assistant principals intending to strike to nominate a teacher to manage schools in their absence
- Cock mentioned that principals want help with the 'growing and unsustainable workload' and better conditions to retain leaders
- The governmentâs 17% offer was described as 'completely unacceptable' by the AEU on Monday, March 23, 2026
- The Independent Education Union (IEU) general secretary David Brear stated that Victorian education salaries have fallen significantly below those in other states and fully supported the AEU campaign
- The IEU is also negotiating a new deal for Catholic school staff and pursuing a case in the Fair Work Commission
- The Guardian reported that some Melbourne schools saw few children arrive on strike day despite the governmentâs pledge to keep schools open
- The Australian Council of Trade Unionsâ secretary Sally McManus said Victorian teachers sacrificed pay during COVID lockdowns and opted for small increases before inflation took off
- Teacher Emilie Owens (Parkville College) said about 65 staff from her school planned to strike, emphasizing that teachers wonât back down without a fair deal
- Claire Waring-Dallwitz (Rosanna Golf Links Primary) stated that three classrooms would remain open at her school of 550 students, with the rest closed
- The ABC included quotes from teachers describing their schools as 'chronically under-resourced' and students as 'vulnerable' due to missed education during COVID
- The ABC highlighted that the governmentâs funding priorities are being questioned by striking teachers
- The Australian Education Union (AEU) president Justin Mullaly warned that the disruption could continue beyond Tuesdayâs strike and that the government needs to 'step up' with a better offer
- The article emphasized the 'unprecedented' nature of the strike, noting it is the first major walkout in over a decade
- Reports suggested some schools were encouraging parents to keep children at home in anticipation of the strike, though the government website did not list any closures
- Parents Victoriaâs chief executive Gail McHardy stated that parents broadly support the strikeâs principle but face challenges managing the day due to work and care pressures
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- The Guardian and ABC report that some schools are advising parents to keep children home, but the Victorian government website does not list any school closures
- The Age states the governmentâs offer was 17% pay rise, while the Guardian and ABC report it as 18.5% (with 8% in April and 3% annually thereafter)
- The Guardian mentions the AEU is seeking a 35% rise over four years, but the Age and ABC specify three years for the 35% demand
- The Age reports the APF formally joined the opposition on Wednesday, March 20, while the Guardian and ABC do not specify this exact date
- The Guardian and ABC report that up to 500 schools will be closed or significantly disrupted, but the Age does not explicitly state the exact number of schools affected
Source Articles
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