General News
25 March, 2026
Fighting for fair: education staff strike
“I know there are a lot of people who are very reluctant to take action because of the significant financial hit, but it’s short-term pain for long-term gain."
THERE wasn’t a staff member or student in sight at two St Arnaud schools yesterday.
But the community was behind the reason.
Staff members from across the region made up part of the 98 per cent of Australion Education Union (AEU) members that walked off campus and joined the fight on the steps of Melbourne’s Parliament yesterday.
All in the name of making a statement they hoped would lead to better pay, better workloads and funding for their schools as a whole.
Union representative and English teacher at St Arnaud Secondary College Clinton Lobley said every teacher from the secondary school would be out in force not only for fellow teachers, but other staff members across the education system as a whole.
“My wife is an educational support worker and it’s just as bad for them as it is for us,” he said.
“I know there are a lot of people who are very reluctant to take action because of the significant financial hit, but it’s short-term pain for long-term gain.
“It’s not just the staff being underpaid, schools are under funded and the Government has a lot to answer for.”
AEU Victorian branch president Justin Mullaly said after eight months of negotiations with the State Government , no agreement had been reached.
He said the union was seeking a 35% pay rise over four years, smaller class sizes and improved mental health and classroom support.
The government responded with a 18.5% pay offer – only after the union moved to strike.
“The Victorian government has deliberately denied public schools $2.4 billion in funding, cementing our schools as the lowest funded in Australia by a long way,” Mr Mullaly said.
“It is a joke for this government to call Victoria the ‘education state’ when teachers, principals and support staff continue to be undervalued and underpaid.”
Charlton College principal Craig Kelly confirmed 12 staff members would be taking industrial action.
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