By Melissa Brown

Topic: Teachers

Friday, 19 June 2026, at 9:44 am

Teachers have rejected the government's pay rise offer of up to 32 percent.

In short:

Victorian state school teachers voted against a 28 to 32 percent pay rise.

The union had agreed to a four-year deal with more student-free days.

What's next?

The union may go back to talking to the government and might have more strikes.

Teachers went against their union's advice and voted down the pay rise.

The union had reached a deal with the government after a big campaign.

The deal would have given teachers pay rises of 28 to 32 percent over four years.

Teachers wanted a 35 percent rise over three years.

The union president thought the offer would be accepted.

But the offer was put to a vote and was rejected.

The union is having an urgent meeting after the vote.

The union president said teachers had the final say.

Just over 42 percent of members voted to accept the deal.

Teachers are very concerned about their working conditions.

The union president said 28 percent is a good offer, but teachers are stressed.

Education support staff were not offered the same pay.

The union president said teachers want the government to fix their working conditions.

The union will meet to discuss what to do next.

The union and government need to talk again about pay and conditions.

The union president will not rule out another strike.

The union members sent a clear message to the government.

The union president will tell the government about the message.

The opposition says teachers deserve to be paid more.

A government minister said they will keep talking to the union.

The minister said teachers deserve a pay rise.

The government will try to reach a deal with the teachers.

The opposition said the government is out of touch with teachers.

The opposition wants the government to do more for teachers.

Teachers deserve to be paid more.

The opposition wants the government to go back to talks.

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