Parents, children back teachers, staff

Albany’s Town Hall was filled to capacity when more than 300 teachers and support staff went on strike to protest against education cuts on Thursday, September 19.

About 100 more supporters, including parents, children, gardeners, education assistants, cleaners and library officers continued their protest on York Street.

Leading the speeches inside the venue were State School Teachers Union executives Kate Bunney and Dave Powell, Community and Public Sector Union’s Margaret Parr and Geoff Bunn from United Voice.

It is the first time in history the three unions have combined for industrial action.

State School Teachers Union executive member Kate Bunney said the proposed changes to school funding and staffing was the biggest faux pas premier Colin Barnett had ever made.

She said teachers were sick of “making do”.

“How do you choose whether it’s the child in the wheelchair or the child with very bad autism who needs help, how do you choose when you don’t have the budget, who you are going to assist?” she said.

“How are the teachers and kids going to cope when you suddenly don’t have an anaphylactic person there (to help) when it’s pre-primary and you have 27 kids?

“I think what Barnett has done is put principals in an insidious position, because how do you choose?”

Among many parents attending the rally out of support was Albany mother-of-two Lesley Yates.

Ms Yates said she was concerned for the future of children like her 15-year-old son who has learning difficulties.

“It’s extremely difficult to get the education assistant funding anyway, and without it, his education is next to zero,” she said.

Education Minister Peter Collier said he was disappointed the industrial action disrupted schools.

“The government will not be changing its position because the changes we are implementing are necessary and will lead to a better, fairer system for schools and students,” he said.