BY ANA KAILIS

PERTH — Members of the Australian Education Union (AEU) WA branch packed the Entertainment Centre on September 1 to endorse an escalation of the campaign for better wages and adequate funding for WA's schools and TAFEs.

The AEU has been negotiating for 12 months with the WA Liberal government for a 15% pay increase over two years, without trade-offs. The state government has offered a measly 10% over three years, a figure that will not keep pace with inflation.

Stop-work meetings, which closed many schools, also took place in regional centres across WA. In Northam, 100 kilometres from Perth, unionists organised a street march in support of public education.

WA teachers are the worst paid in the country. Lack of funding from state and federal governments has resulted in an underfunded public education system while private schools' funding is boosted.

This is set to worsen under federal education minister David Kemp's new funding model, which will sharply increase private school funding at the expense of public schools.

Teachers endorsed a combination of industrial, media and community campaigning, particularly before the state election which is due late this year or early next. A weekly picket is being held outside of state education minister Colin Barnett's office on Fridays between 3pm and 5pm. For more information contact the State School Teachers Union on 9325 5311.

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