Education union threatens August 19 strike without teacher pay deal

The Australian Education Union says its members will stop work for 24 hours next month if the Victorian government does not return to the negotiating table with a better offer.Australian Education Union (AEU) Victorian branch president Justin Mullaly said despite media reports, the Carroll government had not engaged with the union about improving the previous offer."We demand that the government come back and negotiate. We need to see them put a revised offer," he said."We need to see them sign a full funding deal with the Commonwealth."If that doesn't happen, then members will stop work, right around the state, for 24 hours on Wednesday the 19th of August."The announced strike on August 19 will be the third this year for Victorian public school teachers. (ABC News: Toby Hussey)Mr Mullaly said the union was negotiating with the government up until it made its last offer on July 17.He said since the changes in government this week, which elevated former education minister Ben Carroll to the office of Victorian premier, it was unclear who would lead negotiations as the new education minister.Mr Mullaly said the union was prepared to sit down to negotiate with whoever the new minister was."The union has made it clear both publicly and otherwise we will engage in discussions whenever and wherever the government wishes to do that," he said."We stand ready. Is [Ben Carroll] ready? He needs to be."Mr Mullaly said union members had indicated they were prepared to take further industrial action to force the government back to the bargaining table.In response to the announcement of additional possible industrial action, a government spokesperson said any further disruption to the school year would be "disappointing"."The most recent offer would have made Victorian teachers and education support staff the best paid in the country together with the best conditions," the spokesperson said."It's in everyone's interest to reach an agreement that values our teachers and strengthens our public education system."Protracted negotiations between the state government and Victorian teachers have stretched on for more than a year.In June, Victorian teachers went against AEU advice and voted down a pay rise of between 28 and 32 per cent.In March, teachers and supporters took strike action statewide, marching to parliament in central Melbourne, with police estimating 35,000 people were in attendance.Last Friday, a second strike was held, with an estimated 20,000 people in attendance.Mr Mullaly said a range of other industrial actions were continuing, including reduced meetings and a moratorium on responding to departmental emails.