[REVISION HISTORY]

Victoria teachers strike over pay and funding

Updated 2 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

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2026-07-30 04:29 UTC → 2026-08-10 05:30 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The Victorian Labor government’s revised pay package – a 28.3% increase over four years with reduced mandatory meetings and a lump‑sum payment for senior teachers – was rejected by the Australian Education Union (AEU). On 21 July 2026 the union confirmed that more than half of its 50,000 voting members had turned down the offer, prompting a 24‑hour walkout scheduled for 23 July. On 23 July tens of thousands of teachers, principals and support staff participated in a coordinated strike, marching from Melbourne’s CBD to Parliament House. Union estimates put participation at about 30,000 educators, while police counted roughly 20,000. Schools remained open, but many operated on reduced timetables and with limited student supervision. The union’s demands have broadened beyond the pay rise: it seeks a 35% increase over three years, increased per‑student funding to address an estimated AU$2.4 billion shortfall, smaller class sizes, less administrative burden, more planning time, and better support for students with complex needs. It also highlighted a pay gap of about AU$13,000 for new teachers compared with the Northern Territory. The Education Minister has kept the 28.3% offer on the table, but disputes over the deal’s duration and accompanying conditions persist, intensifying political pressure ahead of the upcoming state election. A week later, on 30 July, the Australian Principals Federation joined the dispute, rejecting a revised proposal that would halve teachers’ annual meeting hours from 80 to 40 while retaining the 28.3% pay rise and an additional 12.75% increase by October. Principals warned that such a cut could disrupt school leadership and operations, noting they had not been consulted. Premier Ben Carroll said the government was “close to reaching a deal” and had pulled “every lever” in negotiations, but the principals’ rebuff underscored the widening opposition to the government’s offer.

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