'Significant progress' in pay dispute

Teachers and the State Government have been in a long-running pay dispute. Source: AAP

THE State Government and teachers' union have vowed to end their long-running industrial war in time for the next school term.

And controversial industrial action has been suspended following the breakthrough.

In a statement this afternoon a government spokesperson said the parties had made "significant progress" in resolving the dispute, including on salaries.

"The parties have agreed to intensive negotiations over the next two weeks to seek to resolve outstanding matters with the intent of finalising an agreement by the start of the next school term," the statement said.

"During this period the AEU has undertaken to suspend its industrial action.

"As the EBA negotiations are not finalised the parties have undertaken to refrain from making any public comment on the content of the negotiations.''

It comes after new Premier Denis Napthine last week took performance pay, a key sticking point in the ugly battle, off the negotiating table.

Union Victorian president Meredith Peace had said there were still a number of outstanding issues including salary, staff workloads, class sizes and the high level of contract employment.

The dispute has caused chaos in schools statewide, forcing the cancellation of camps and other activities as teachers refused to work overtime.

Teacher comments were last year banned from student reports amid intense controversy.

The teachers' union had promised more unrest with a series of rolling regional half-day stoppages in Term 2, starting with a rally in the Premier's home seat.

The Australian Education Union in November reduced its pay claim to 12.6 per cent over three years; the Government offered 2.5 per cent a year plus performance pay.

View the original article here