Victorian teachers and support staff strike for the first time in 13 years over pay dispute

ABC NEWS (Australia)

The Australian Education Union says Victorian public-school teachers and support workers are prepared to strike again if they can’t reach a wage deal with the state government. An estimated 35,000 education staff and their supporters walked out of their classroom demanding better wages and working conditions. Hundreds of public schools around the state were severely disrupted by the action – the first-time teachers have walked off the job in 13 years.

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00:02They promised a sea of red, and today Victoria's public education workforce delivered on that

00:09pledge, closing classrooms and filling the streets of Melbourne.

00:13Lowest funded, lowest paid!

00:16We deserve a better wage!

00:18My family are all teachers and it's progressively just getting worse and worse for us.

00:22If we're the education state, we should be paid as such.

00:24I think it's very important that my mum gets the pay rise because she doesn't get paid enough

00:29because she does really long hours and she deserves more.

00:3340,000 teachers walked off school grounds around the state.

00:39With an estimated 35,000 marching to state parliament, firmly rejecting the government's offer

00:46to increase wages by 17% over four years.

00:50We will not be disrespected.

00:52We will not be overlooked and we will not be undervalued.

00:58Thank you teachers!

01:00The education department says all schools remained open, with most running modified programs.

01:07Time for action!

01:08Despite Victoria having the lowest paid teachers in the country, the government is sticking to its guns.

01:15This is a very strong offer and you've got to understand that we did everything we can to avoid today.

01:24We did everything we can to get the offer on the table as soon as possible.

01:28The two parties go back to the negotiating table tomorrow.

01:32The union wants a 35% increase over four years and believes the public is on their side.

01:39They understand that if you don't properly fund our schools and properly pay school staff,

01:45then you're going to have more shortages of teachers.

01:48Today's massive turnout indicates this dispute is far from over, with teachers vowing to keep up the pressure until they

01:56get what they want.

01:56Anyway, they look really easy for us to be prepared.

01:57To be prepared for you if they were able to get the most important part of the company,

01:57to be prepared for you, to be prepared for you.

01:57You can build your best friends.

01:58You can build your best friends and you're doing nice,

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