Thousands of WA teachers strike for better pay

The State School Teachers' Union of WA estimated more than 11,000 of its members walked off the job today, to demand higher pay from the state government.

Thousands of teachers marched from Optus Stadium to Gloucester Park as part of the strike for better pay and working conditions this morning, leaving classrooms empty for half the day.

The union claims more than 8,000 people attended the rally, while more than 3,000 teachers attended regional events in about 20 locations.

Around the state, 22 schools were fully closed and 62 schools partially-closed during the work-stop action.

The union and the Department of Education have been in pay negotiations since October, but have yet to reach a new enterprise agreement.

The SSTUWA has stood firm on a 12 per cent increase over two years, knocking back the state government's offer of 11 per cent increase to teachers' pay over three years.

SSTUWA president Matt Jarman previously said teachers and school leaders have been leaving the public system in droves.

“Our members have accepted four years of wage freezes during a time of high inflation and ever-increasing workloads caused mainly by having to manage increasingly complex classrooms," he said yesterday.

“WA’s public school teachers were once the highest paid in Australia, but our members have slipped in the national rankings."

At a union meeting, SSTUWA members passed a motion to examine further action if no agreement is reached by May 10.

The union has also called on the state government to review the class sizes in WA public schools, escalating violent behaviour and management for childrent with neurodivergence.

In the days leading up to the strike, the state government has urged the union to not follow through with its industrial action.

"What we've said is we're happy to continue to engage, we've got an offer on the table but honestly, it there's no need to strike," WA Treasurer Rita Saffioti said.

"The key message from all the unions was we want wages growth but we want you to seriously look at our conditions.

"And we are seriously looking at the conditions. So our plea is you don't need to strike, we have a positive engagement, let's work together to improve, as I said, not only wages but also the conditions out there in the workforce."