Striking Vic teachers 'want respect' VICTORIA'S striking teachers say they want respect not just increased wages. Up to 30,000 teachers and support staff who are locked in a pay dispute with the state government joined the 24-hour action with about 10,000 meeting at Melbourne's Hisense Arena before marching to Parliament House on Thursday. Carrum Downs Secondary College drama teacher Clare Golding says she was at the rally to get the respect of the government and community. "I work long hours running extra-curricular activities after school," Ms Golding told AAP. The wage increase is really about getting the respect we deserve. Ms Golding said she was fighting for fairness and a fair-go. We're not just teachers. We're carers; we're counsellors. Contract teacher Melissa Wheatley said it was time the government valued teachers. "We are anxious each year not knowing how we will tell our families we don't think we have a job," she told the rally. We're sick of the system. Sick of applying for jobs, sick of contracts and sick of the government not listening to us. Taylors Hill Primary school library technician Maria Sartori said special needs support staff in particular looked after the most vulnerable. "Our work is not appreciated," she told AAP. Our pay can be less than a supermarket worker. Essendon Keilor College principal David Adamson said he knew of other principals being harassed by the education department over the industrial action. He said principals are frustrated over the pay issue. We're in the middle of the sandwich in a sense between the department and the teachers and we're trying to do the best we can.