VICTORIAN teachers may refuse to participate in out-of-hours activities, such as school musicals, sports and camps, unless a satisfactory pay and conditions deal is struck with the state government.
Teachers will be joined by support staff for the first time when they strike today, with up to 400 schools expected to close.
In Ballarat yesterday, Premier Ted Baillieu said the strike would be disruptive for schools, parents and students.
"We have on the table an offer which would see the best-performing teachers be the best-paid teachers in the country," he said.
"Performance pay goes to the heart of ensuring we get adequate rewards for the best teachers."
About 15,000 teachers and support staff are expected to attend a rally at Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena and then march to Parliament House, where they will be joined by around 5000 of their Catholic school counterparts, whose pay is tied to their government school colleagues.
Australian Education Union Victorian president Mary Bluett said education department staff would be at schools to watch children whose parents were unable to arrange alternative supervision.
The AEU has rejected a proposed deal from the government, which is offering 2.5 per cent annual increases, with anything further to be offset by productivity gains.
The union wants a 30 per cent pay increase over three years and more job security for teachers and support staff, many of whom are employed on a contract basis.