Paper hearts have been laid at the feet of protesters at a union rally to represent lost education jobs, with Western Australia's government planning to scrap 3000 public sector positions.
Dozens of CPSU/CSA members from the education department walked off the job on Tuesday as part of industrial action against the McGowan government's cuts to jobs and services.
More than 100 education staff left their positions last month under the voluntary targeted separation scheme.
However the union says it is concerned about the impact on the quality of education and services and fears people will be forced to take redundancies.
Secretary Toni Walkington says the government needs to reverse its position.
"Ultimately, taking these jobs out of the education system will see higher costs in the medium to longer term," she said.
The list of roles to be axed include project officers, administration assistants, managers, support officers, health and safety specialists, Aboriginal education co-ordinators and regulatory officers.
Ms Walkington said specialist roles such as Aboriginal Support Officers provide essential services based on culture and community liaising for Aboriginal students and their families.
"This government needs to reverse the cuts and look at ways to increase revenue for this state, not cut services to those who need them the most," she said.
The strike comes after Education Minister Sue Ellery was forced to backflip on the relocation of Perth Modern, WA's only academically selective school, and $23 million worth of other education cuts.
Premier Mark McGowan reaffirmed his government's commitment to close Moora residential college in 2019.
He said on Thursday attendance at the college was declining as other options opened up nearby and it would cost $8.7 million to make the school fire safe.
