Australia: Victorian education support staff speak out against AEU-Labor sellout

June 1, 2026 - 04:21

Education support staff in Victoria are voicing strong anger over a new agreement reached between the Australian Education Union and the state Labor government, accusing union leadership of silencing dissent and prioritizing political ties over worker interests. The deal, which covers thousands of teacher aides, administrative workers, and other non-teaching staff, has been met with accusations of a "sellout" from members who feel their concerns were ignored during negotiations.

One worker, speaking on condition of anonymity, expressed deep frustration. "If members cannot ask questions or raise concerns without being censored, what sort of democracy is that? The union clearly works for the government, not for us," they said. The sentiment reflects a growing rift between the union's executive and its rank-and-file members, who claim they were pressured to accept terms that fall short of their demands for better pay and working conditions.

Critics argue that the AEU leadership failed to push for meaningful improvements, instead rubber-stamping an agreement that benefits the government's budget more than the workers who provide essential support in schools. Meetings held to discuss the deal have been described as tightly controlled, with dissenting voices reportedly shut down or ignored. As frustration mounts, some members are calling for a review of union processes and questioning whether the AEU truly represents their interests or has become an arm of the Labor Party. The dispute highlights a broader tension within the union movement over accountability and democratic participation.