Victorian public education teachers have voted unanimously for rolling stoppages in term 2 if the Bracks Government fails to improve on its salaries offer.

Victorian teachers strike

By Maree O’Halloran

On March 3 teacher colleagues in Victoria went on strike for 24 hours in pursuit of their salaries claim of 30 per cent over three years. They were joined by teachers in the Victorian Independent Education Union.

The strike followed refusal by the Bracks Labor Government to pay Victorian teachers at least the 5.5 per cent awarded to NSW teachers as an interim.

On September 17, 2003, teachers in NSW, Victoria and Western Australia took action together about salaries. The action followed "a pact made by State Labor Treasurers [last year] to cap public sector pay deals at three per cent or under". (Financial Review, February 28-29, 2004). The interim increase awarded to NSW teachers has blown apart that pact. There have also been settlements in Queensland, Tasmania, the ACT and Western Australia greater than three per cent per annum.

The intransigence of the Bracks Government has forced Victorian teachers into threatening rolling stoppages. The Victorian Government has been deliberately provocative during this dispute by offering to increase the amount on offer if teachers reduce their leave by a week. Federation Senior Officers were in Melbourne to provide greetings and messages of support from NSW. The intransigence of the Bracks Labor Government is but a further signal that we must stand ready to take further industrial action in NSW as circumstances develop.

Maree O'Halloran is the President.