SA to seek talks to end teachers' dispute

The South Australian government will go to the state's employment tribunal in a bid to end a long-running dispute with teachers over a new enterprise agreement.

Treasurer Rob Lucas will file an application on Wednesday seeking conciliation talks with the Australian Education Union.

But Mr Lucas says the government doesn't have the capacity to lift its pay rise offer of 2.35 per cent a year over the next three years.

The AEU has said that industrial action will take place unless there is a substantially improved offer," the treasurer said.

"The reality is, no amount of industrial action is going to give South Australian taxpayers any more money for pay rises."

As well as the pay increase, the government has put $42 million on the table over four years for additional support for schools with complex needs and $13 million to create new positions for highly-accomplished and lead teachers.

But the union says the proposed agreement does not do enough to address its concerns over working conditions.

In July, teachers held a one-day strike and the union continues to impose some work bans ahead of a planned escalation in action next week.