Teachers in Victoria strike for first time in 13 years, with classes cancelled at about 500 public schools | Victoria

Classes have been halted across Victoria as thousands of striking state school teachers, principals and education support staff prepare to head to state parliament for a rally over pay and conditions.

Up to 500 schools will either be closed or “significantly impacted” as a result of the first strike in the state’s public school system in more than 13 years, according to Australian Education Union Victoria president Justin Mullaly.

“Our advice to parents is that it’s best not to send your child to school,” Mullaly told reporters Monday.

There were reports of small numbers of children arriving at some Melbourne schools on Tuesday morning. This comes despite Victoria’s education department previously insisting schools remain open.

The Fair Work Commission approved the action two weeks ago after 98 per cent of AEU members voted for a 24-hour strike over low pay and excessive workload.

An education department spokesman acknowledged that while some schools may remain open, they cannot support all children.

“While all schools are expected to be open tomorrow, many schools will only be able to supervise a limited number of students,” a department spokesperson said Monday.

“Schools will communicate changes to school schedules directly to parents and caregivers.”

A significant group of 30,000 striking AEU members were expected to march from Victoria Trades Hall to parliament for a rally on Tuesday afternoon.

Some principals who planned to attend the rally also told school communities that the inspection would only apply to the children of emergency workers.

Australian Council of Trade Unions secretary Sally McManus said Victorian public school teachers had sacrificed pay during Covid lockdowns and opted for a small increase before inflation took off.

“There’s really deep anger among Victorian teachers,” he told ABC Radio on Tuesday.

“They are now the lowest-paid teachers in the country.”

AEU joined the EBA talks about eight months ago, demanding a 35% pay increase over four years, reducing class sizes and improving mental health and classroom support.

The government responded with a wage offer of 18.5% only after the union went on strike.

This proposal included salary increases of 8 percent for teachers and 4 percent for education staff to take effect in April, followed by a 3 percent increase for each of the following three years, as well as a 1.5 percent overtime allowance.

Victorian premier Jacinta Allan had called for the strike not to take place on Monday.

Schools for students in the Catholic and independent sectors operated as normal; but the union representing its teachers issued a statement supporting their colleagues in the public system.

“Salaries in Victorian education have fallen significantly below those in other states and we fully support the AEU’s campaign for fair pay and immediate improvements in workload and staff welfare,” David Brear, general secretary of the Independent Education Union, said in a statement published by the Age.

The IEU was also negotiating a new deal for staff at Catholic schools and was following a case at the Fair Work Commission.

– via Australian Associated Press