Tens of thousands of teachers in Victoria go on strike, march through Melbourne
Updated . First published
Over 30,000 teachers in Victoria have walked off the job today and marched through Melbourne in protest over their pay and working conditions.
Teachers at government schools in the state are the lowest paid in the country.
They are calling for a 35 per cent pay increase over four years - well above what the state government is offering.
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Teachers with the AEU strike today in Melbourne CBD. Louis Trerise
Currently, the government has proposed a pay rise of 17 per cent over four years.
Staff from around 500 schools joined today's strike, marching through the streets of Melbourne to Parliament House.
They called on the government to take action and support teachers who were leaving the industry in droves.
"The ball is in the government's court. They know how the profession feels, they know the profession's expectations, they do need to put a real deal on the table that meets our needs, that respects us," Australian Education Union member (AEU) Justin Mullaly said.
It is the first time the state's teachers have walked off the job since 2013.
"Victorian education salaries have now fallen far behind as a result of recent significant increases won by education unions around the country," a statement from the Australian Education Union (AEU) claimed.
Experts say teachers feel neglected and mistreated. Louis Trerise
"The AEU's negotiations with the state government have stalled after eight months, with the latest pay offer leaving wages far behind the national standard."
Professor Lucas Walsh from Monash University believes teachers are being pushed to the brink by poor treatment and working conditions, sending a warning if things don't change.
"They feel abandoned by the system," he said.
"We will see more principals leaving the profession."
Most schools remained open today, though some claimed they were only be able to offer limited supervision for students.
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Premier Jacinta Allan is calling for the teachers to return to the negotiating table. Nine
Premier Jacinta Allan has called for the union to come forward and engage in positive talks.
"My message to the leadership of the Australian Education Union is to stay at this table, to keep negotiating," she said.
It was a message echoed by Education Minister Ben Carroll, who said teachers in the state were valued.
"I do believe this is a very significant and compelling offer and if you look at all of our public sector EBAs, to have a first offer of this magnitude says how much we value our teachers," he said.
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