Overview
- Members of the Australian Education Union voted 57.7% to 42.3% to reject an in‑principle pay and conditions deal on Friday, overturning the branch council’s endorsement of the agreement.
- The discarded offer would have delivered roughly 28–32% pay rises stretched over four years plus extra student‑free professional practice days.
- Rank‑and‑file teachers rejected the deal partly because it fell short of their headline demand of 35% over three years and because it did not resolve heavy workloads, staffing shortfalls or underfunding.
- AEU leaders have called an urgent branch council meeting and said they will return to the negotiating table with the government while not ruling out further industrial action, including more strikes.
- The dispute has already produced major disruption this year, with more than 30,000 educators staging a March walk‑off, and the failed vote raises the risk of renewed school disruption and political consequences ahead of the state election.