The Labor Party has shockingly refused a ballot requested by the Australian Education Union (AEU) for strike action, despite several months of negotiations, and the government giving the AEU a proposal for an effective pay cut

Allan government blocks teachers' strike action

The Socialist Bulletin Staff - 30/1/2026

Photo: By Bahnfrend - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0

IN a shameful act proving the 'Labor' Party is not deserving of the name, the Allan Labor government in Victoria, the employer of all public school teachers in the state, has blocked a request by the Australian Education Union (AEU) to hold a ballot among their members on whether or not to engage in strike action.

Victorian public school teachers are among the lowest-paid in the country, and have not engaged in strike action in over a decade.

The Victorian government has gone to teachers with a pay deal that, accounting for inflation is actually a pay cut, which is extremely outrageous as Victorian teachers are, year-on-year, becoming increasingly more unable to afford houses, especially close to their places of work. Additionally, teachers in Victoria are expected to do far more work than in previous years.

The Labor Party claims to be the party of Workers, and to represent their interests in parliament and in government. This deplorable use of the anti-worker Fair Work Act, which was implemented by the Labor Party, proves that that party represents business interests. When they call themselves a Workers' party, or a party that represents poorer Australians, this disgusting act, as well as other similar acts since the creation of the Price and Incomes Accords in the 1980s, must be thrown in their faces.

AEU Victorian Branch President Justin Mullally stated in response that 'Victoria’s public school staff are being taken for granted and disrespected by the Allan Labor Government, with excessive workloads and serious wage disparity compared to other states.'

The Union additionally stated that by October of this year, teachers will earn almost $300 per week less than their NSW counterparts.

The AEU concluded their statement by condemning the Allan government's disrespect for public schooling and public school teachers.

In contrast, however, private schools remain extremely well funded, with one private school recently spending over $7 million to purchase one small house next door to them for renovations as part of that school.

The Labor Party does not stand for workers, and only a true, principled socialist party can truly represent the working class and their class ambitions.

The Socialist Bulletin acknowledges that we write on stolen, unceded Indigenous land. We pay our respects to First Nations elders, past, present, and emerging.