Schools set to shut as WA teachers strike

The 2013 Perth Fashion Festival wraps up tonight with the much anticipated show of Ellery's 2014 Vitreous resort collection

MORE PROTESTS: WA teachers will walk off the job on Thursday. Pictured are United Voice members protesting against planned education funding cuts earlier this month.  Picture: Kerris Berrington

DOZENS of schools across Perth and Western Australia could shut this week, as teachers and other staff join forces for an unprecedented joint strike to protest against government cuts.

Up to 10,000 angry teachers, education assistants, library staff, cleaners and gardeners are expected to attend a two-hour stop work meeting and rally at the Gloucester Park racecourse on Thursday morning, which in turn could force principals to close schools across the city.

Parents are being warned to prepare to have their children home until lunchtime.

"In many instances I think there will 100 per cent of staff out so there will be no supervision available,'' State School Teachers' Union president Anne Gisborne said.

And Premier Colin Barnett is being warned the action by the SSTUWA, the CPSU/CSA and United Voice could be just the start.

"The Premier is sitting in Parliament House not realising the depth of concern we have as people working in schools,'' Ms Gisborne said.

"The mood of people out there is such they want to send a very clear message to the Premier that we are not to be messed with, and public schools are not to be messed with.''

Anger has been rising since the post-budget revelation that up to 500 education assistants and support staff will lose their jobs as a result of a funding re-allocation for WA schools.

The state government insists the cuts are not happening, pointing to a $300 million increase in funding for education this year, saying the budget is higher now than before the Liberals came into power.

Education minister Peter Collier says school funding needs overhauling because it is complex and unwieldy.

Mr Collier, who met with the unions last week, urged members to reconsider the action.

"I do not think it is helpful at all,'' Mr Collier said.

"Our schools have never been better resourced, our teachers are now the best paid in the nation - I am making the bold and courageous decision to make sure our funding is most effectively targeted.''

Potential Labor leader Bill Shorten addressed a mass protest rally at WA parliament on the eve of the federal election that was dismissed by Mr Barnett as a party event.

The protest on Thursday promises to be much bigger, while 4000 educators are expected to attend protests at major regional centres including Albany, Broome, Esperance, Bunbury and the Goldfields.

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