AEU’s in-principle deal sets new benchmark
The Australian Education Union (AEU) Victorian Branch has reached in-principle agreement with the state government on pay and conditions for public school staff, with AEU members now considering the deal.
The proposed increases under the in-principle Agreement are complex, but teachers and school leaders will receive wages increases of 3% in May 2026, followed by 9.75% in October 2026, further increases of 4% in 2027 and 2028 and 4.9% in 2029.
A 1% position allowance will continue to be paid to teachers and Assistant Principals in December for each of the 4 years of the deal.
Education Support staff will receive a combination of salary rises, classification changes and allowances.
ES Increases
2026: 2.5% May 2026, allowance 7.4% June 2026, 2.5% October 2026.
2027: 4% November, allowance 4% December.
2028: February, 4.7% November, allowance 4% December.
2029: 4.9% November, allowance 4% December
In addition, many ES staff will benefit from the introduction of new salary points on the incremental pay scale in 2028.
There are a number of other improvements to conditions including significantly improved camp allowances and increased non-teaching and professional practice days.
The agreement was endorsed in principle by an overwhelming majority of AEU council which is made up of 120 elected delegates from across the union’s membership.
IEU Secretary General David Brear has congratulated AEU members for “winning pay increases that brings them into line with interstate colleagues, achieved in large part through strongly supported industrial action”.
“The AEU strike on 24 March was a show of unity that highlighted why the IEU has fought so hard for the right to the same industrial tools through its campaign for a single interest authorisation (SIA),” David said.
The power of full industrial rights and the fight for an SIA
Despite repeated delays caused by employers and their inadequate data, our fight for the SIA continues at the Fair Work Commission, with the hearing set for 16 June.
David says the SIA campaign “has already been a boon for the campaign and the entire IEU, demonstrating organising power to employers and building membership in workplaces”.
“By fighting for our rights with determination and persistence, we bolstered the AEU campaign and strengthened our own bargaining position.”
This continued resolve, and the state sector news, means Victorian Catholic school employers must now properly address IEU claims and clearly outline their own position.
It also means that IEU members in their schools must resist any attempt to reduce working conditions in Victorian Catholic schools.
First roadblocks, now clawbacks
Already employers have begun attempts to claw back improvements to class focus time and the right to leave school premises during working hours.
David says the Catholic Agreement must feature improvements on workloads, staff safety and proper pay for Education Support Staff. Not backward steps.
“We’ve fought hard to get to this point. Now is the time to stand firm and demand that our working lives continue to improve alongside our wages,” he said.
“We are staging a Day of Action on 29 May 2026. Because we are denied the rights AEU members enjoy, those actions have to occur outside the school day and have various limitations so they cannot be construed as industrial action.
“But make no mistake – just like IEU members did on 24 March when supporting AEU colleagues – we will make a noise.
“We will be seen and we will be heard.”
