Victorian Teachers Strike July 23 After Rejecting 28.3% Pay Offer

Victorian public school teachers will strike on Thursday, July 23, after narrowly rejecting the state government’s latest pay offer. More than 50,677 union members voted 51.18% to 48.82% against a 28.3% pay rise over four years. The Australian Education Union says the offer falls short despite including education support staff and a 12.75% increase by October. Teachers plan a 24-hour walkout and march to Parliament House in Melbourne.

How the vote unfolded and what it means

The Australian Education Union held an online ballot that closed on Tuesday, with 90.2% of eligible members participating. The slim 51.18% rejection sent union members back to strike action after the government’s attempt to avert disruption. AEU Victorian branch president Justin Mullaly said the result sends an undeniable message: the government must fully fund public schools and stop relying on teacher goodwill.

Education Minister Ben Carroll had pitched the revised deal on July 16 as the best offer yet. It included a 12.75% raise by October and a further increase to reach 28.3% by 2030, plus halved teacher meetings and a 1% lump sum for senior classroom teachers. The union initially demanded 35% over three years.

Why teachers say the offer is not enough

Only 3 in 10 public school teachers plan to stay in Victorian schools, according to union data cited by Mullaly. He argues Victoria has “deliberately ripped $2.4 billion out of our public schools” despite branding itself “the education state.” Teachers work an average of 12 hours unpaid overtime weekly, the union claims, and public schools remain the lowest funded in the country.

Mullaly said conditions are at the heart of the dispute, but pay and retention are equally critical. The union has not named a new figure that would end the strike.

What happens on strike day

Union members will stop work for 24 hours on Thursday, July 23. Tens of thousands of Australian Education Union members are expected to march through Melbourne’s CBD, gathering at Bourke Street Mall at 10:30am before marching to Victorian Parliament House. The Independent Education Union confirmed members will take solidarity actions with AEU members.

This follows a March 2026 strike when over 35,000 teachers walked off the job for the first time in 13 years. Current industrial action also includes bans on unpaid overtime, state Labor MPs visiting schools, and new government programs.

The broader context of teacher shortages

Victorian teachers have been in dispute with the Labor government for nearly a year without reaching agreement. The March strike was the first walkout since 2013, signaling growing frustration over pay and working conditions. Union officials say chronic underfunding and excessive workloads are driving experienced teachers out of public schools, threatening the state’s education system.

Premier Jacinta Allan now faces pressure to return to the table with a substantially improved offer. Mullaly said there is “one side of this dispute that can resolve things clearly and quickly, and that’s the government.”

What this means for families and schools

The 24-hour strike will disrupt the first week of the new school term, creating childcare chaos for thousands of families. Schools will close or operate with skeleton staff. The strike sends a signal that the government’s revised offer, while substantial on paper, has not addressed core concerns about school funding and teacher retention.

If negotiations fail, further industrial action is possible. The union has already imposed bans on unpaid overtime and other measures that affect school operations.

Final Thoughts

Teachers rejected the 28.3% offer by the narrowest margin, signaling they will not settle for pay rises alone without guaranteed school funding. Premier Allan must now decide whether to improve the offer or absorb the disruption of repeated strikes. The outcome will shape Victoria’s ability to retain teachers and fund public education.

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