Curtin University’s School of Education senior lecturer Saul Karnovsky said teachers had been pushed to the brink, and it was critical the state government take their claims seriously.

“No teacher enjoys walking off the job, but the profession has reached crisis point: our teachers are overworked, underpaid, undervalued and ready to call it quits,” he said.

“If pay and conditions don’t improve, we won’t be able to attract the best teachers and we will continue losing those we have.

“In a state so rich in human and resource capital, the WA government should do everything it can to value teachers and provide better workloads, conditions and pay.”

Union president Matt Jarman said his members felt the pay offer was “a little on the insulting side”.