Education union threatens August 19 strike without teacher pay deal

Victorian public school teachers are threatening another 24-hour strike on August 19 if the state government fails to present an improved pay offer in the coming weeks. The announcement comes after a significant industrial action on July 23, which saw tens of thousands of educators protest across Melbourne's central business district.

The Australian Education Union (AEU) stated that despite media reports, the government, led by new Premier Ben Carroll (formerly the Education Minister), has not yet engaged in meaningful negotiations to enhance its previous offer. AEU Victorian branch president Justin Mullaly emphasized the union's demand for the government to return to the negotiating table with a revised proposal and to secure a full funding agreement with the Commonwealth.

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We demand that the government come back and negotiate. We need to see them put a revised offer. We need to see them sign a full funding deal with the Commonwealth.

If these conditions are not met, teachers and educators across the state will cease work on August 19. This planned strike will be the third this year, highlighting the protracted nature of the negotiations which have spanned over a year. Earlier in the year, union members rejected a pay rise ranging from 28 to 32 percent, indicating dissatisfaction with the proposed terms.

Mullaly confirmed the union's readiness to engage in discussions with whoever the new education minister may be, stressing their availability for negotiations. He also noted that various other industrial actions, such as reduced meeting participation and a moratorium on responding to departmental emails, are ongoing. The union remains firm in its stance, prepared to take further action to compel the government back to serious bargaining.

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The union has made it clear both publicly and otherwise we will engage in discussions whenever and wherever the government wishes to do that. We stand ready. Is [Ben Carroll] ready? He needs to be.