Victorian teachers and education staff have voted yes to a revised pay deal from the state government, signalling an end to a protracted bargaining process that included two strikes.
The revised government offer, which was handed down last week, promises pay rises between 28.3 per cent and 32.4 per cent over four years, and a lump sum payment of $2,000 at the start of the agreement.
The accepted offer also includes improvements to working conditions, with guarantees to reduce the number of meetings teachers must attend and providing professional practise days.
Premier Ben Carroll has pledged to fully fund public schools ahead of the November election, one of the union's key demands.
Mr Carroll said the revised pay deal would cost taxpayers more but was an "investment in the future".
"We were delivering $5 billion over four years, in delivering the best pay and conditions for our teachers," Mr Carroll said.
"That has naturally gone up a little bit more … it is between $5 [billion] and $5.5 [billion]."
The Victorian branch of the Australian Education Union (AEU) said 83 per cent of its members participated in a vote, with 79 per cent of those voting in favour.
In a post on social media, AEU Victorian branch president Justin Mullaly congratulated union members for securing the pay deal.
"Together we've been able to get a significant outcome that delivers real pay increases, real improvements to conditions and we got a commitment from the state government to deliver full funding for our schools," he said.
"Remember that there are more things that we need to do. We need to make our schools safer.
"We need to make sure the federal government delivers funding for school buildings and infrastructure and we need to make sure that state government delivers on their promise to fully fund our schools."
The agreement brings an end to months of protracted discussion, with statewide strikes held in March and July.
The acceptance of the pay deal comes just days before a third planned 24-hour strike was due to be held on Wednesday, which has now been cancelled.
A government pay offer in June was voted down by 58 per cent of teachers and education staff, against union recommendations.
The agreement will now proceed to a vote of all employees as required under the Fair Work Act.
Education Minister Gabrielle Williams said the government welcomed the outcome of the vote and the revised pay offer made Victorian educators "the best paid with the best conditions in the nation".
But Ms Williams said with a wider vote and approval from the Fair Work Commission yet to be completed, there was still weeks of work to be done.
"We now have a vote that will take place … we understand that's likely to take a few weeks," she said.
"That puts us in a position to have this endorsed by about October."
