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Workplace Conflicts

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1. More than $180 million have been cut from the education budget in Western Australia with concerns of further cuts in future. Parents, students and teachers are worried that cuts in education budgets will hamper the quality of education that is imparted on students. Along with that around 500 education providers are set to loose their jobs especially education assistants. Funding would be reduced in some special programs. This will increase the workload of teachers. Lack of commitment on the government’s part to explain their decision has created insecurity among the teachers, fearing further cuts in the upcoming state budget. The education assistants, public school teachers, parents and students held a strike, which resulted in the closure of 103 schools for the day.
2. The main parties in the conflict are the State School Teachers Union, parents and students along with United Voice on one side and the government on the other side.

3. The budget and job cuts have led to industrial action taken by teachers and parents. Teachers are ready to miss a day’s pay by participating in the strike; so much is their commitment to the cause. According to media reports, the Premier and the Education Minister’s refusal to attend the community day rally by terming the strike as unlawful has further agitated the teachers and parents alike.

A strike would be successful if it can gather enough media attention along with public sympathy something the teachers and parents have at their advantage. It builds pressure on the government or the employers involved but it is not a way out. The government may agree to their terms to call off the strike (In this case they may agree since the elections are approaching to save their votes) but may go back on their words later, which can lead to more conflicts and disruptions in the future. The Education Minister needs to clarify the

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