Victoria’s public school teachers have rejected the Victorian Government’s proposed pay and conditions agreement, setting the stage for further industrial action as the union prepares to determine its next move.
The Australian Education Union (AEU) confirmed that members voted against the offer in a statewide ballot, with 57.7 per cent rejecting the proposal and 42.3 per cent supporting it. The result follows negotiations between the union and the Victorian Government that produced an in-principle agreement last month, including a pay rise of up to 28 per cent over the life of the deal.
The ballot involved a membership believed to number around 60,000 teachers, principals and education support staff across Victoria’s public school system.
AEU Victorian branch president Justin Mullaly said members had used the union’s democratic processes to express dissatisfaction with both the proposed agreement and broader issues affecting the profession.
According to the union, concerns extend beyond pay and include workload pressures, staffing challenges and school funding. The AEU argues that many educators continue to work substantial unpaid hours each week and says public schools in Victoria remain underfunded compared with those in other states and territories.
Mr Mullaly said the union’s Joint Primary and Secondary Council, comprising elected teachers, principals and education support staff, would meet to consider the next steps in the campaign.
The rejection presents a challenge for the Victorian Government, which had promoted the proposed agreement as a response to workforce pressures and an effort to improve teacher retention. The Government has previously pointed to the pay increase and other measures within the package as evidence of its commitment to public education.
For the union, the vote provides a mandate to continue pressing for further changes. Members are seeking improvements to workload arrangements alongside increased investment in public schools, arguing that these issues are contributing to difficulties attracting and retaining staff.
The outcome comes as education systems across Australia continue to grapple with teacher shortages, rising workloads and growing demand for support services in schools.
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