Victorian teachers and principals strike over pay dispute with state government
Consensus Summary
Thousands of Victorian public school teachers, principals, and education support staff are set to strike on March 24, 2025, the first statewide industrial action in 13 years. The Australian Education Union (AEU) is leading the protest, demanding a 35% pay rise over three years after rejecting the state government’s 17% offer, which they call inadequate given Victoria’s lowest teacher pay in Australia. The dispute highlights systemic underfunding, with Victorian teachers earning significantly less than their interstate counterparts and schools receiving only 70.4% of Gonski funding needs. The government plans to keep schools open by deploying casual and retired teachers, but principals warn of disruptions, with some schools already advising parents to arrange alternative care. The strike reflects broader frustration over workloads, mental health support, and funding priorities, with unions and parents citing chronic under-resourcing as threats to education quality. Premier Jacinta Allan and Education Minister Ben Carroll have urged teachers to abandon the strike, framing it as disruptive for families, while the AEU insists the government has failed to address fair pay and conditions.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Tens of thousands of Victorian public school teachers, principals, and education support staff are set to strike on March 24, 2025, marking the first statewide strike in 13 years
- The Australian Education Union (AEU) is leading the strike, demanding a 35% pay rise over three years for its members, citing Victorian teachers as the lowest-paid in Australia
- The state government offered a 17% pay rise over three years (8% one-off + 3% annual for three years), which the AEU rejected as 'completely unacceptable'
- The AEU reported 98% of its members voted in favor of the strike after Fair Work Commission approval
- Victorian teachers earn $78,801 for graduate teachers compared to $90,177 in New South Wales, with a $15,000 gap for experienced teachers
- The state government plans to deploy retired teachers, casual relief teachers, and education support workers to keep schools open during the strike
- The Victorian government is underfunding Gonski school reforms, receiving only 70.4% of the needs-based funding (vs. 75%+ in other states), leaving a $1.38 billion gap
- Premier Jacinta Allan and Education Minister Ben Carroll have urged teachers to abandon the strike, calling it disruptive for families
- The strike is scheduled for 24 hours on March 24, 2025, with AEU members expected to rally outside Parliament House in Melbourne
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- About 30,000 public school teachers, principals, and education support staff are expected to participate in the strike (ABC specifies 30,000 teachers, while other sources mention 'tens of thousands')
- The AEU says 500 state schools could close or face significant disruptions due to the strike
- Teacher Emilie Owens (Parkville College) and Claire Waring-Dallwitz (Rosanna Golf Links Primary) are named as striking educators with direct quotes about fairness and under-resourcing
- The Education Department spokesperson noted that schools would communicate changes to programs directly to parents and carers, with only limited supervision available for students
- The strike is described as the first in 13 years since Labor returned to government in Victoria
- Education Minister Ben Carroll stated that retired teachers, casual relief teachers, and education support workers could be deployed to keep schools open, with specialist schools prioritized
- Principals warned families on Monday that alternative arrangements may be needed for children’s care, with decisions on school closures or supervision depending on staff nominations by Friday afternoon (March 21)
- The Australian Principals Federation (APF) formally joined the opposition to the government’s pay offer, with some principals (AEU members) expected to join the strike
- The state government’s pay offer was described as a 'one-off 8% pay rise this year, followed by annual 3% rises over the next three years'
- The AEU cited a $2.4 billion shortfall in government school funding by 2031 due to secret cuts approved by Premier Jacinta Allan’s Budget and Finance Committee
- APF president Andrew Cock highlighted principals’ unsustainable workload and the need for better conditions to retain leaders in schools
- The Victorian Principals Association president Andrew Dalgleish confirmed schools would not know until 5pm Friday how many staff intend to strike
- The Guardian emphasizes the slogan 'the education state' on Victorian license plates as ironic given the strike, framing it as a contrast between branding and reality
- The Guardian notes that the Fair Work Commission approved the strike after 98% of AEU members voted in favor, but does not provide additional context beyond this
- The Australian Principals Federation (APF) president Andrew Cock explicitly stated that some principals (AEU members) would join the strike, though he could not say how many
- The APF’s statement emphasized the complexity of the principal role and the need for workload reduction alongside pay increases
- Parents Victoria’s chief executive Gail McHardy stated that parents broadly support the strike’s principle but face challenges managing the day due to work and care pressures
- The article highlights that most government schools have told communities supervision will be available only for children of emergency workers by prior arrangement
Where the reporting differs
Details that conflict, or appear in only some outlets:
- ABC states about 30,000 teachers are expected to strike, while THEAGE and GUARDIAN refer to 'tens of thousands' without specifying an exact number
- THEAGE (Article 2) reports the government’s offer as a 'one-off 8% pay rise this year, followed by annual 3% rises over the next three years,' but ABC and THEAGE (Article 5) describe it as a 17% pay rise over three years (with ABC specifying 17% over four years)
- ABC claims 500 state schools could close or face significant disruptions, while THEAGE (Article 2) states the government believes it will have enough workforce to keep schools open despite the strike
- THEAGE (Article 2) reports that principals will know by 5pm Friday (March 21) how many staff intend to strike, but ABC does not mention this specific timeline for decisions
- THEAGE (Article 5) states that most government schools have told communities supervision will be available only for children of emergency workers by prior arrangement, while ABC does not explicitly confirm this policy
Source Articles
Allan pleads with teachers to abandon Tuesday’s strike
The premier has warned of disruption and inconvenience when state school teachers strike for 24 hours over pay and conditions.
Schools set to stay open amid teacher strikes, education minister says
Education Minister Ben Carroll insists Labor can keep Victorian government schools open as principals warn families to brace for closures.
Thousands of Victorian teachers and support staff strike amid pay dispute
About 500 state schools could close or face significant disruptions today, as teachers walk off the job for the first time in 13 years, says the Australian Education Union.
Principals prepare to join statewide teachers’ strike
As industrial action looms, school leaders have joined teachers in rejecting the government’s pay offer.
Victoria bills itself as the ‘education state’ but thousands of school teachers are set to strike. Here’s what it means
Up to 500 schools will be ‘significantly’ affected by Tuesday’s industrial action. What will classes be like and why are educators striking? Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Victorian licence plates may carry the slogan “the education state” but on Tuesday, thousands of public school teachers, principals and education support staff will go on strike for the first time in 13 years. The Fair Work Commission approved
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