Victorian public school teachers are set to hold another 24-hour statewide strike on Thursday, July 23, 2026, amid ongoing disputes with the state government over pay and working conditions.

The Australian Education Union (AEU) Victorian Branch confirmed the industrial action, which will include stop-work action and a ban on unpaid overtime. AEU Victorian branch president Justin Mullaly cited excessive workloads and chronic underfunding as key reasons for the strike, stating that teachers, principals, and education support staff are working an average of 12 hours of unpaid overtime each week.

Mullaly also criticized the Allan Labor government, accusing it of "purposefully denying at least $2.4 billion in funding for Victorian public schools," which remain the lowest funded in the country. He highlighted that only three in ten employees expect to remain working in public schools until retirement, with excessive workloads cited as a major factor driving staff away.

The Victorian government has urged the AEU to call off the strike and return to negotiations. Earlier in May, after a campaign that included the first 24-hour teacher strike in more than a decade, the AEU announced it had reached an in-principle agreement with the state government. However, talks have since stalled, leading to the renewed industrial action.

This strike follows a previous statewide action in March 2026, underscoring ongoing tensions between educators and the government over funding and working conditions.

Sources