Make Ted Baillieu keep his promise to Victorian teachers

Dear Premier, 

Before the last Victorian election, you promised to make Victoria's teachers 'the highest paid in Australia'. Your colleagues argued that "Victoria’s children deserve better, and education can never be our number one priority if those who teach our children struggle on poor salaries."

You were right then, Mr Premier - Victoria's children DO deserve better.

If you really do want better outcomes for our kids, please drop your insulting pay offer to Victorian teachers, and return to the negotiating table with an offer that keeps your promise to Victorian teachers to make them the 'highest paid in Australia'.

Why is this important?

The Victorian Government's wages policy of 2.5% per annum, with any further increase dependent on 'productivity' gains, leaves Victoria's teachers looking at an effective pay cut in real terms.

This is in stark contrast to Premier Baillieu's promise before the last election, to make Victoria's teachers "the highest paid in Australia".

The pay deal that will ultimately be negotiated for teachers in Victoria won't just apply to government school teachers, but workers in Victorian Catholic schools. It will also help set the 'market rate' for pay in independent schools. Current pay negotiations will, in one way or another, affect every education worker in the state.

Coupled with a series of other cuts to education funding, including ripping hundreds of millions of dollars out of TAFEs, cutting the Education Maintenance Allowance, ending the School Start Bonus and decimating VCAL, the actions of the Baillieu Liberal Government represent the largest attack on Victorian education in a generation.

Mr Baillieu should do the right thing, by showing that he values education and will keep his promise to Victorian teachers.