Victorian Teachers Strike Over Pay Dispute

0:00This is Cory with the story with Sydney News today, powered by the Daily News Now. Victorian teachers are set to strike next Tuesday after their union rejected the state government's pay offer. The Australian Education Union turned down a 17 percent increase over four years, calling it unacceptable. This comes amid in eight-month ways dispute as the November state election approaches. The union wants a much bigger 35 percent rise over three years to match pay in New South Wales. Right now, starting teachers in Victoria earn about $79,000 while their counterparts across the border make over $90,000. Experience teachers face a $15,000 gap too. Teachers and union leaders are furious about low pay fueling a staffing crisis. They say overworked educators are leaving the profession in droves. Union Minister Ben Carroll has promised a proper pay rise to make wages competitive nationwide. Adding to the tension are secret funding cuts to public schools, totaling $2.4 billion

1:02less by 2031. Victoria lags behind other states and fully funding the Gonski Needs Base model, getting just 70.4 percent from the state this year. Meanwhile, with public sector wages already hitting $23 billion last year, treasure Jacqueline Simes faces budget pressures. This first statewide strike since labor returns a power escalates the fight ahead of the polls. The Daily News Now is presented by our sponsor, linked in the description. Comfort you can hear. Sound you can relax into, S-O-L-I, solelypillow.com