Schools disrupted due to strike action

7/5/97

Many parents and thousands of students will be upset that ongoing industrial action by the State School Teachers' Union will disrupt Western Australian schools, Education Minister Colin Barnett said today.

Mr Barnett has expressed his disappointment at the union's decision today to continue industrial action.

He said that ongoing action, particularly the union's decision that there would be no excursions out-of-hours, would disappoint many students who looked forward to such activities as a part of their daily school lives.

"The union is unnecessarily bringing politics into the classroom," Mr Barnett said.

"Schools are not the proper place for the union to demonstrate its feelings on the Government's industrial relations legislation.

"Any action that restricts the normally very high standard of education in WA schools is unsettling. However, through the Education Department, the Government will work to minimise the effects on students."

Media contact: Justine Whittome (09) 222 9699