The SSTUWA have announced a full day strike on April 1st. i am interested in peoples views on this, teachers, parents and everyone else.

What do people feel about the unions approach to this and does the genral public actually know why the teachers and support staff will be striking?

UWA staff are supposed to be going to be on indefinite strike next week too.

Fire their socialist asses

Doubt very much they're doing it lightly, they're unfortunate enough to be in the 'vocation' bracket which translates to 'they do it mainly cos they give a shit, so we can take the piss with their wages and conditions' in government speak.

No idea why they are striking, but as an ex-teacher I have to say that I would not strike- there are precious few enough days in the calendar to educate the children, and all you are doing is losing the sympathy of the parents who have to find childcare or take time off work, and hurting the very people you are supposed to be helping to learn.
If you must protest, do it in the holidays!!

I agree. Here in WA the Govt are shafting schools and they have my backing all the way.

I'm a teacher in WA. The strike is being called over the cut in education budget, about $150m. It is NOT about wages and conditions (our agreement is set until the end of 2014).

We have lost 2 education assistants because of the cuts. This directly affects the children as many EA's are trained in reading recovery etc.

Taxes are too high
WA has too many government employees
Budgets get cut
Something has to give
Happens in private industry
Part of life

It's rare I disagree with you.... BUT.... I agree with you in many of your statements but at school level they cannot afford to lose this money and the staff. You (and I) are fortunate enough that we can afford private schooling but there are many that can't and these cuts will affect the education provision of many WA children. One of mine now goes to state school and they are running on the bones of their arse at her school, they cannot afford to lose any more money.

how do teachers feel the union have handled it? leaving such a huge gap between each strike?

It wouldn't make your cause any less noble in my view if it were about pay. I think they take the piss out of the dedication of teachers at times.