Victorian public school teachers' first strike in 13 years over pay and conditions
Consensus Summary
Thousands of Victorian public school teachers, principals, and support staff are striking on March 24, 2024, marking the first statewide walkout in 13 years. The Australian Education Union (AEU) rejected the state governmentâs 17-18.5% pay offer, demanding a 35% increase over three to four years, citing low wages and excessive workloads as key issues. The strike, approved by 98% of AEU members, will disrupt around 500 schools, with many operating on skeleton staff or closing entirely. Premier Jacinta Allan urged teachers to abandon the action, arguing it would disrupt families, while the AEUâs Justin Mullaly accused the government of disrespecting educators. Principals, represented by the Australian Principals Federation (APF), also oppose the pay offer and some plan to join the strike. The government insists schools will remain open, relying on casual and retired teachers to cover gaps, though some schools have advised parents to keep children home. The strike highlights long-standing concerns about underfunding and teacher pay in Victoria, with educators arguing their salaries are the lowest in Australia.
â Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Thousands (30,000+) of Victorian public school teachers, principals, and education support staff are striking on March 24, 2024, the first strike in the stateâs public school system in 13 years (since 2013).
- The Australian Education Union (AEU) rejected the state governmentâs 17% or 18.5% pay offer, demanding a 35% pay rise over three or four years for teachers, who are the lowest-paid in Australia.
- The Fair Work Commission approved the strike after 98% of AEU members voted in favor, citing low pay and excessive workloads as key grievances.
- About 500 state schools in Victoria will either close or operate with limited supervision (only children of emergency workers in some cases) due to the strike.
- Premier Jacinta Allan urged teachers to abandon the strike, calling it disruptive for families and arguing the governmentâs offer was reasonable.
- The Australian Principals Federation (APF) formally opposed the governmentâs pay offer, with some principals (AEU members) planning to join the strike.
- The strike involves a 24-hour stopwork action, with rallies planned outside Victorian Parliament House in Melbourne.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Victorian license plates carry the slogan âthe education state,â contrasting with the strike over perceived underfunding and low pay.
- The education department conceded many schools will only supervise a âlimited number of studentsâ during the strike.
- The AEUâs Justin Mullaly advised parents to keep children home, as some schools were reporting few students arriving despite official claims schools would remain open.
- The strike is described as âunprecedentedâ in scale, with over 30,000 educators participating.
- The AEU warned disruption could continue beyond the initial 24-hour strike, with Justin Mullaly stating, âWe will escalate our campaign.â
- Some schools reportedly encouraged parents to keep children home in anticipation of the strike, though the state government did not officially advise closures.
- Emilie Owens (Parkville College teacher) stated, âI want the premier and the government to see a sea of red, to see school staff who wonât back down without a fair deal on wages and conditions.â
- Claire Waring-Dallwitz (Rosanna Golf Links Primary) said Victorian teachers are the âlowest-funded schools in the countryâ and âlowest-paid teachers in the country,â adding, âThereâs just no way we can keep going like this.â
- The ABC highlighted that teachers rejected the governmentâs 17% offer after over a year of negotiations, with the union arguing Victorian teachers are paid far less than interstate counterparts.
- An Education Department spokesperson confirmed schools would remain open but only provide supervision for a limited number of students, with changes communicated directly to parents.
- The Australian Principals Federation (APF) president, Andrew Cock, stated the governmentâs offer âdoes not acknowledge the complexity of the principal role,â and principals face âgrowing and unsustainable workloads.â
- The APF is seeking better pay, reduced workloads, and improved mental health support for principals, with Cock emphasizing, âIf we want great leaders in our schools, the system must properly recognise the role.â
- The Education Department asked principals participating in the strike to nominate a teacher to manage schools in their absence.
- Premier Jacinta Allanâs plea for teachers to abandon the strike was described as a âlast-minute pleaâ that âappears set to fall on deaf ears.â
- The government is relying on casual relief teachers and retired teachers to keep schools open during the strike, with Allan stating, âWeâve got a strong offer on the table.â
- Parents Victoriaâs Gail McHardy acknowledged support for the strikeâs principle but noted families would face âvery real challengesâ managing the day, relying on leave or extended family.
- The Independent Education Union (IEU) general secretary, David Brear, stated in a published statement that âSalaries in Victorian education have fallen significantly below those in other states,â and the IEU fully backs the AEU campaign.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- The Guardian and ABC report that the education department conceded schools would only supervise a limited number of students, but The Age (March 24) initially stated schools would remain open despite the strike, though later clarified some schools were advising parents to keep children home.
- The Guardian and ABC cite the AEUâs demand for a 35% pay rise over four years, while The Age (March 24) states the union is seeking a 35% rise over three years.
- The Age (March 24) reports the governmentâs offer was 18% (including a 1.5% overtime allowance), but the Guardian and ABC describe it as 17% or 18.5% without mentioning the overtime allowance.
- The Age (March 24) states the strike began after the governmentâs offer was made a week ago, nine months after negotiations began, while the Guardian and ABC do not specify the exact timeline of the governmentâs offer relative to negotiations.
- The Guardian and ABC report that some principals (AEU members) are joining the strike, but The Age (March 24) states the APF is not pursuing industrial action yet, though some principals may participate if they are AEU members.
Source Articles
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