June State Council Conference was recently held at the SSTUWA’s headquarters in West Perth.

State Council is the union’s supreme decision-making body, with the conference being held in June and November each year.

State Council delegates gathered for the two-day event to participate in professional development, vote on motions directing the SSTUWA’s future activities and hear from speakers such as AEU Federal President Correna Haythorpe.

Last year’s June conference was cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions. You can read more about June State Council on page 6 of this issue of Western Teacher.

Also this month the SSTUWA hosted a group of union leader, members and supporters for the launch of the Public Sector Alliance (PSA), a group comprising of unions representing workers such as public educators, health workers, prison officers, firefighters and many others.

As reported on page 10 of this issue of Western Teacher, the PSA will campaign to reform WA’s public sector wage policy, which has capped salary increases to $1,000, a decline in real wage terms for six years.

UnionsWA Secretary Owen Whittle spoke at the event, alongside union representatives from the Community and Public Sector Union/Civil Service Association, Health Services Union of WA and United Workers Union about the effect of capped wages on workers.

At the conclusion of the event union leaders signed a statement outlining their cause and showing their commitment to the alliance.