More than 30,000 teachers, principals and other public school educators have walked off the job across Victoria on Tuesday over a pay dispute, with Tasmanian staff from the sector also taking industrial action.
A rally outside Victorian Trades Hall Council has attracted a bumper crowd, with homemade placards reading "the maths isn't mathing, Ben", "Little Miss Underpaid" and "Allan government, re-do and resubmit" with a photo of the premier in a dunce hat.
Educators turned out to make their voices heard after their pay packets fell behind during the pandemic era, with ACTU president Sally McManus saying it was the state's largest strike rally in recent times.
"That's what happens when you disrespect teachers," she said.
There were chronic staff-recruitment and retention issues across the sector, the education union's state branch president Justin Mullaly said.
"We shouldn't be out here today," Mr Mullaly said.
"Victoria, today at least, is not the education state."
Entry-level teachers in Victoria can expect to be paid $16,500 less than those in the Northern Territory, the best-paid jurisdiction.
Streets were blocked as the fired-up educators began the walk to the front steps of state parliament.
All 1600 Victorian public schools are open but 500 will be significantly disrupted, with parents told classes won't run and asked to keep their children home if possible.
A school in Melbourne's outer east recommended parents make alternative arrangements for their children, while only four of 34 classes were slated to run at a nearby primary school.
The 24-hour teachers strike is Victoria's first in more than 13 years and comes eight months out from the state election.
Premier Jacinta Allan pleaded for the Victorian branch of the Australian Education Union to cancel the action and return to the negotiating table to prevent disruption.
But the union told AAP the strike action would go ahead as planned, threatening a further escalation if necessary.
The union and state Labor government remain far apart on a new pay deal after an offer of 18.5 per cent increase over four years was rejected.
The union is demanding a 35 per cent increase over the same period, along with measures to address excessive workloads and ongoing staffing shortages.
Education Minister Ben Carroll said the government's initial offer equated to $2.6 billion in extra wages and would immediately lift educators' pay by up to $11,000.
The government met with the union on Monday but is yet to table a revised offer and remains committed to doubling the number of non-teaching days from five to 10.
"This is a very strong offer," Mr Carroll told reporters on Tuesday.
"We did everything we can to avoid today."
Deputy Liberal leader David Southwick accused the state government of being more focused on the demands of the CFMEU than the teachers' union.
"They deserve to be paid more," he said.
Public schools will also close in Tasmania over three days as teachers strike in their battle for improved pay and conditions.
Stop-work action will begin in the state's northwest on Tuesday, followed by the north on Wednesday and the south including Hobart on Thursday.
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