Due to a stalemate in salary negotiations between the State School Teachers’ Union WA (SSTUWA) and the government in Western Australia, teachers who are members of the union have decided to strike for half a day next Tuesday, April 23. On Thursday, the Premier announced that parents can still send their children to school on the day of the strike, as the education department has made arrangements to look after the students.
The union’s negotiation demands include a 12% salary increase over two years, with a proposed 7% raise in the first year and 5% in the second year. The Western Australian government, on the other hand, has suggested an 11% pay raise over three years, with a 5% increase in the first year and 3% raises in the following two years. However, union members have rejected the government’s wage proposal and have decided to strike for half a day on April 23.
Matt Jarman, the president of SSTUWA, stated that the negotiations involve not only salaries but also work conditions and workload. He mentioned, “Teachers and school leaders are under immense pressure, dedicating a substantial amount of their time to work.”
The union has expressed that their members find the government’s proposal insulting, especially considering that teachers’ salaries have been frozen for four years amid rising living costs.
The union anticipates significant participation from public school teachers across the state in the strike scheduled for April 23.
When questioned by the media, Premier Cook responded, “We believe the strike is completely unnecessary.”
According to the news website, “WA Today,” Cook stated, “If the strike does occur, the education department has measures in place to ensure that we can take care of the children in school.”
“If we are unable to fulfill our duty of care, then we will be forced to close those schools, but at the moment, I believe all schools will be able to look after the students in attendance, albeit with some adjustments. Every parent should know that they can send their children to school next Tuesday, and principals will work with teachers and the education department to ensure we have the resources needed to care for the children.”
However, Saul Karnovsky, a senior lecturer at the Curtin University School of Education, stated that teachers have been pushed to the brink, and the government must take their demands seriously.
He said, “No teacher wants to walk away from their jobs, but the teaching profession is at a crisis point: our teachers are overworked, underpaid, undervalued, and there is a real risk of resignations. If salaries and conditions are not improved, we will not be able to attract the best teachers, and the existing ones will continue to leave.”
“In a state rich in human and resource capital like Western Australia, the state government should do everything within their power to prioritize teachers, providing better workloads, conditions, and salaries.”
责任编辑：杨新云