The Victorian state government anticipates that its latest pay proposal to public school teachers, offering wage increases of up to 32 percent over four years, will secure an agreement and prevent additional strikes.
Ongoing Union Discussions
The Australian Education Union’s Victorian Branch Council has been reviewing the new offer since early Friday at its headquarters in Abbotsford. Branch president Justin Mullaly plans to address the media soon.
Insiders describe the proposal as including pay rises ranging from 28 to 32 percent over four years, noting its intricate structure.
Government’s Positive Outlook
During a parliamentary inquiry on Friday, Industrial Relations Minister Jaclyn Symes highlighted the “very productive” negotiations with the union.
“They are thrashing out the negotiations and having very productive conversations that hopefully we’ll hear more about when they have finished the conversations that they’re having right now,” she stated.
Symes added, “It is my advice that negotiations are underway as we speak, but I’m obviously not able to provide an outcome of those discussions today, but I have been advised that they are productive, and we’re getting closer and closer.”
