Principals, teachers and support staff across Victoria will walk off the job for the first time in 13 years tomorrow after the state’s education union rejected a “completely unacceptable” offer from the Allan Labor Government over pay and conditions.
The stop work action will see Victorian school staff rally at Victorian Trades Hall from 10:30am and march to the Victorian Parliament where they will demand a 35% pay increase and improved working conditions.
Last week, the Fair Work Commission approved the strike after 98% of union members voted in favour, despite the government having made no offer at the time. Days later, a 17% pay proposal was put forward, but the union rejected it, arguing it falls well short of its 35% claim and fails to address workloads, unpaid overtime and chronic staff shortages.
Victorian schools at crisis point
Victorian schools are facing deepening staff shortages, driven by low teacher pay and rising workloads. At the same time, Victoria’s public schools remain the lowest funded in Australia, with 2026 funding frozen at 2023 levels and a further $2.4bn shortfall projected by 2031 following the state’s delay in securing a full federal funding agreement.
“Victorian public schools have a serious workforce shortage because excessive workloads and uncompetitive pay are driving experienced staff out of the profession and making it difficult to attract the next generation,” Australian Education Union Victorian Branch President Justin Mullaly said in a statement today.
“This should be completely unacceptable in any state or territory, let alone for a Labor state government which prides itself on calling Victoria the ‘education state’.”
Mullaly said Victorian teachers, principals, and support staff would “much rather be in the classroom teaching Victorian students today”, but the “disrespect” from the Allan Government forced the union’s hand.
“If the Allan Labor Government really values the work of Victorian teachers, principals, and education support staff, they must come forward with an offer that addresses their real concerns.”
According to a recent survey, just 30% of staff intend to remain in public schools long-term, while more than 80% report rising workloads driven by inadequate support.
The pay gap is also widening sharply. By October 2026, experienced Victorian teachers will earn up to $15,359 less annually than their NSW counterparts, with starting support staff 10.5% behind and new principals lagging by $27,841, or 18%.
Further action possible if demands aren’t met
Setting the stage for a potentially longer strike, the Australian Education Union’s Victoria Branch says its members are ready to escalate their industrial campaign “if it is necessary” to ensure that “a fair and decent” offer is made by the government.
“Our students and their families do not deserve to have teachers, principals, and education support staff that are underpaid and undervalued. Instead, the delivery of high quality public education requires that they are properly respected and paid what they are worth,” Mullaly said.
“The Premier and the Education Minister need to act immediately on this, and on delivering full funding through an agreement with the federal government which lifts Victoria off the bottom of the funding pile and delivers the resources in full, like other states and territories.”