Kalgoorlie-Boulder public schools to be affected as local teachers join WA colleagues demanding better pay

Public schools in Kalgoorlie-Boulder will be disrupted as local teachers join thousands across the State preparing to work a half day on Tuesday to demand better pay and conditions. Parents were notified on Friday they would need to find alternative arrangements for their children as 29 public schools plan to close, with a further 55 preparing to only partly open for student instruction. In a letter sent by Hannans Primary School, parents and carers were informed most year groups would not start the school day until the planned strikes end at 12.30pm. “To ensure adequate duty of care the school will be operating on a ‘partially open’ basis for the morning of the planned industrial action,” the letter stated. “This means some student groups will be able to attend for the whole school day, and some will be welcomed to school after the stop-work action has concluded.” O’Connor Primary School will remain open throughout the no-work action, with parents informed in a letter there would still be “some disruption” to normal teaching and learning programs. The strike action comes as negotiations continue between the Department of Education and the State Schools Teachers Union WA after the first industrial agreement was rejected in March. The declined offer was for an immediate 4.75 per cent pay increase followed by a further 3 per cent rise in December and another 3 per cent in December 2025. The SSTUWA’s demands include smaller class sizes and a pay increase of 7 per cent in the first year, followed by a 5 per cent rise or national CPI in the second. The union’s president Matt Jarman said teachers in regional areas often felt the brunt of the challenges faced in schools. “We are expecting a strong turnout from our members in the regions, from Esperance to Karratha,” he said. “Many of the issues being faced in our schools, particularly in relation to workload issues and lack of support, have an even greater effect on our members in regional and remote areas. “It’s important for the voices of regional teachers and school leaders to be heard on April 23rd, as the union continues to push for an adequate pay and conditions offer from the State Government.” Department of Education director general Lisa Rodgers said public school principals would inform their communities by Friday whether their school would be affected. “We value teachers and are making every effort to have this reflected in their pay and conditions,” Ms Rodgers said. “At this stage, we are confident that the majority of schools will remain open on Tuesday. “There will be no student instruction in the morning for the schools that are closed, so students should attend at 11.30am in the Kimberley and Pilbara, and 12.30pm in all other regions.”