Fed-up and burned out teachers have walked off the job, campaigning for better pay and conditions in the second capital city strike in as many days.
Public schools in Hobart and surrounding southern Tasmania shut on Thursday, with hundreds of education staff and members of other unions rallying outside state parliament house.
It comes two days after a mass strike rally in Melbourne attracted a crowd of about 35,000 people.
Assistant principal Monique Hamilton said Tasmania's education system was strained and teachers were struggling daily.
Ms Hamilton received an email from an early career teacher who said they couldn't sleep with the pressure of after-hours work including lesson plans, behavioural reports and feedback.
"The pressure is mounting faster than the support can keep up," Ms Hamilton said.
"We need the government to truly listen to what we're saying.
"Passionate educators are being pushed to the edge before they've even had the chance to work."
The state Liberal government had put forward a three per cent pay rise in year one offer, with three per cent in year two, 2.75 per cent in year three, plus incentives and conditions.
Australian Education Union Tasmanian president David Genford said there wasn't a legitimate offer on the table that adequately detailed allowances or addressed workload.
The union on Friday rejected the "outrageous" offer from the government, pledging to continue with strikes over three days.
Mr Genford was hopeful of coming to an agreement with the government by the end of March, but said industrial action could continue in term two if not.
Tasmania's government is at loggerheads with multiple unions fighting for better pay and conditions.
The Liberals want to get rid of 2800 public jobs to help deal with growing budget debt.
"When there have been elections they have managed to find money for their pet projects," Mr Genford said.
"They're blaming the public sector when they haven't been able to handle the budget for the last 10 years."
Education Minister Jo Palmer said she was disappointed the union rejected the offer without putting it to members for a vote and discussions would be held in good faith.
AAP has been told there was no update out of a "regular" meeting between Victoria's education union and government on Wednesday.
The union continues to push for a 35 per cent pay rise over four years and bolstered working conditions after rejecting an initial offer of an 18.5 per cent increase over three years.
While touting Victoria landing an NFL regular season game for an undisclosed sum, Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said a "fair pay rise" had been put on the table.
Victoria's net debt is on track to reach $194 billion by mid-2029 after rapidly rising during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Australian Associated Press
