Source : Perth Now news
Public school teachers have rejected a state government’s revised offer on wages, sparking the potential for future school disruptions.
Victorian Education Union public school teachers, principals and support staff have voted down a revised state government offer on pay and conditions, with 57.7 per cent of members voting against the offer versus 42.3 per cent who supported the deal.
“AEU members have had their say through the union’s democratic processes with a majority of members voting to reject the Allan Labor Government’s pay and conditions offer,” union branch president Justin Mullaly said in a statement on Friday.
The state government had put forward a revised offer in May which would see public school teachers pocket pay rises of between 28 and 32 per cent over four years.
“Victorian public school teachers, education support employees, and school leaders are undervalued and overworked, averaging 12 unpaid hours per week, and our public schools are the lowest funded in Australia,” he said.
“AEU members have sent a clear message to the premier and her government that the in-principle agreement and current levels of public school funding do not go far enough to address their concerns.”
The union’s council, made up of 120 elected teachers, education support staff and principals, will meet to determine the next steps the union will take following the failed vote.
Scheduled strikes across the state were put on hold while the proposal was put to members on the government’s offer.
Members had demanded a 35 per cent increase over four years, smaller class sizes and more flexible working arrangements, including the possibility of a four-day work week.
