Arabic version: فيكتوريا تعرض زيادة أجور بنسبة 28.3% للمعلمين وتحث على إيقاف الإضراب
The Victorian government has made a new pay offer to state school teachers in a bid to head off another planned 24-hour strike next week.
According to ABC News, the government says the revised proposal would amount to a 28.3 per cent pay increase for teachers, principals and education support staff over the next four years, including an initial 12.75 per cent rise by October 2026.
Education Minister Ben Carroll said the offer would see “More than 90,000 full-time teachers will earn over $1,000 more per month by October this year and almost $3,000 more per month by 2030, and education support staff will earn $1,600 more per month by 2030.” The government also proposes cutting required meeting hours from 80 hours a year to 40 hours a year, giving principals “greater flexibility on meetings”, and providing an annual lump sum payment for the most experienced teachers at the top of the scale.
The Australian Education Union said it was advised of the new offer late last night and will meet to discuss the proposal late this afternoon. The AEU accused the government of seeking to bypass the union and go straight to employees with the offer, saying, “A Labor government should know better — it is union members who decide.” The government has urged the AEU to put the offer to members and call off the scheduled industrial action.
Earlier this week the AEU had announced public school teachers would hold another 24-hour strike on July 23. In June, Victorian teachers went against AEU advice and voted down a pay rise proposal of up to 32 per cent. In March, teachers and supporters took statewide strike action, marching to parliament in central Melbourne; police estimated about 35,000 people were in attendance, and the March strike was reported as the first of its kind since 2013.
What happens next: the AEU will meet late this afternoon to discuss the government’s offer, and the government has asked the union to present the proposal to members and call off the planned 24-hour strike on July 23.
Related sections: Australia/استراليا | South Australia | Victoria | General | Social/إجتماعية
