Retired teachers could be back in the classroom as public school staff in one state walk off the job after rejecting an 18.5 per cent pay rise.
The Victorian branch of the Australian Education Union knocked back the latest offer from the state government on Monday night, saying it doesn't deliver the pay increases that properly value the work of school staff.
It would also increase excessive workloads and exacerbate the more than 12 hours of unpaid overtime public school employees do each week, according to the union.
If the industrial action goes ahead, it'll be the first statewide teacher strike in Victoria since Labor returned to government 13 years ago.
Victorian Branch President Justin Mullaly said the offer of 18.5 per cent was "completely unacceptable" and would do nothing to fix the staffing shortage crisis across the state's public schools.
“An offer like this does not go far enough to keep experienced teachers in the system nor attract the next generation who are the future of the profession," he said.
"I don’t think the premier and education minister could in good conscience look Victorian parents in the eye and say they are doing their best to support the workforce who teach their children.”
The offer is the first made by the state government after eight months of negotiations.
The offer proposes an eight per cent pay rise for teachers and principals, four per cent for education support staff on April 1, and three per cent each year across the following three years.
This figure is a far cry from the 35 per cent pay increase the union had been demanding.
Education Minister Ben Carroll said he would continue to work with the union after they rejected the "very competitive offer".
He said both the government and union would prioritise dialogue over discussion.
But if the strike goes ahead next week, Mr Carroll assured Victorians that schools would remain open.
“Our schools will be open, we are calling on the union again to work with us, this is a serious compelling offer,” he told reporters in Ascot Vale.
When asked how this was possible, Mr Carroll said school's would use retired teachers and casual staff - but conceded if the strike went ahead, a normal curriculum would not be run.
Victoria isn't the only state in pay negotiations with teachers, Queensland and Tasmania are offering an eight per cent pay rise, and the Catholic system recently offered a 13 per cent pay deal.
Mr Carroll said the rejected pay deal would have put Victorian teacher salaries in line with New South Wales, but provide better conditions - including flexible work arrangements.
Union members working in Victorian public schools will stop work for 24 hours next Tuesday after the Fair Work Commission-endorsed ballot had 98 per cent of members vote to take stop-work action.
