Victorian teacher strike likely after EBA dispute deepens

THOUSANDS of Victorian teachers look set to strike after their dispute over a new enterprise agreement deepened.

Victorian teachers look set to strike after their dispute over a new enterprise agreement deepened. Generic picture

THOUSANDS of Victorian teachers look set to strike after their dispute over a new enterprise agreement deepened.

The education union has voted to take steps that would allow a ballot on industrial action, unless it gets agreement from the Andrews Government on new pay and conditions demands.

Apart from a massive 21 per cent pay rise over three years, the union is calling for the government to reduce teacher workloads it claims are “at breaking point”.

It says thousands of extra teachers are needed to enable Premier Daniel Andrews to keep his promise of making Victoria the “education state”.

Australian Education Union state secretary Meredith Peace said last night that teachers were effectively working two full days of overtime every week “and when teachers are run into the ground it is ultimately students who suffer”.

She said teachers and principals need to be given “the time to focus on their core work of teaching and learning and delivering high quality education to their students”.

The union has voted to lodge documents with the Fair Work Commission that would allow it to hold a ballot on action that would include strikes.

If teachers endorse the action, classrooms would close.

The latest industrial relations drama to hit the Andrews Government comes amid an ugly dispute over firefighter pay that has dragged on for years.

Education Minister James Merlino last night said negotiations with the education union were ongoing and praised the work of teachers.

“Our teachers do an amazing job and we will continue to bargain in good faith over their EBA,” he said.

Opposition Education spokesman Nick Wakeling said Premier Daniel Andrews was “too busy pushing his radical social agenda and has neglected the basics needs of our teachers and students”.

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