The rally comes after last week’s public school sector pay deal announcement that will see Victorian school teachers become the highest paid in the nation.

Now Australian Education Union Victorian Branch president Mary Bluett is calling on the negotiators for TAFE employers to resolve the dispute over a new certified agreement.

"Victorian TAFE teachers still remain the lowest paid in the country," she said.

"There’s now an added incentive to (lift salaries) because with Victorian school teachers getting $10,000 more at the top, they’re now $13,000 ahead of TAFE teachers.

"There are many TAFE teachers who are trained to teach in primary and secondary schools and could easily return to the school system."

Ms Bluett said the first demand was for TAFE directors to return to the bargaining table by May 30.

"If they don’t, these people have authorised us to draw up a media, political, and ultimately industrial, campaign to achieve a breakthrough," she said.

AEU TAFE vice-president Gillian Robertson said more than half of all Victorian TAFE teachers were casual.

"Victoria’s chronic skills shortage will not be resolved by an underpaid, casualised TAFE teaching workforce."

State opposition leader Ted Baillieu also addressed the rally.

"You have a strong case and a good cause to do better than the 3.25 per cent and to lift this profession up," he said.

Minister for Skills and Workforce Participation Jacinta Allan said the State Government believed TAFE teachers should have a pay rise, and urged the AEU to negotiate.