The Victorian Greens stand in solidarity with teachers and education support staff taking industrial action, saying the Allan Government must deliver a fair pay and conditions deal that values the people educating our children.
Victorian teachers are the lowest paid in Australia despite facing some of the highest workloads, with the average school employee working around 12 hours of unpaid overtime every week.
By October, experienced Victorian teachers are set to earn more than $15,000 less than their counterparts in New South Wales.
The Greens say that unless the Allan Labor Government addresses pay and workload, Victoria will continue to struggle to attract and retain the teachers and education support staff schools desperately need.
As stated by the Leader of the Victorian Greens, Ellen Sandell:
"Teachers and support staff shouldn't have to be fighting this hard just to be paid what they're worth.
"Victoria is meant to be the Education State. We have it on our number plates, for crying out loud. We should be leading the country, not paying our teachers the least in the country, having them work the most overtime, and underfunding our schools.
"Labor can find billions of dollars to fund their political pet projects but then doesn't have enough money to pay our teachers and support staff a fair wage. It is shameful."
