When key union leaders gathered for a group selfie last week to protest against hundreds of job cuts in education, there was one noticeable absentee.

Carolyn Smith, the secretary of United Voice in WA and arguably one of state's most powerful women, with the ear of the Premier, was not there.

As one of the three faces of the 'Putting Our Kids First' campaign which fought against the Barnett government's education cuts for several years, her absence was glaring.

Carolyn Smith (second from left) had fought against education cuts for years. ( Facebook: Putting Our Kids First )

That was because the other two faces of the campaign — Toni Walkington from the CPSU/CSA and Pat Byrne from the State School Teachers' Union (SSTU) — were there. Still fighting the good fight, albeit with a different opponent.

The pair told the rally they had been duped by the new Labor Government, which in opposition promised not to "slash and burn" the public sector but was now shedding 3,000 jobs.

That figure includes at least 360 non-teaching "backroom" positions in education, with Aboriginal support roles gutted more than other areas.

A reasonable person might expect Ms Smith would have strong views about the impact of such cuts, but so far she has not shared them — at least not publicly — and her 20,000 members might be wondering why their typically dedicated and tenacious leader was not getting involved in the education debate.

Union protesters marched on the Education Department demanding job cuts be reversed. ( ABC News: Rebecca Carmody )

One doesn't have to look far for an explanation

In June, Ms Smith won a ballot to become president of WA Labor for two years — making it virtually impossible for her to get stuck into Premier Mark McGowan and his team.

With her dual roles of union secretary and ALP president comes the inescapable question. Is Ms Smith's first allegiance to her union members, some of the lowest paid in the state including teacher assistants, gardeners and cleaners — or is it to WA Labor?

Ms Smith is a union leader who also happens to work next to Premier Mark McGowan. ( Facebook: Carolyn Smith )

Ms Smith denied she had a conflict of interest and said she was planning to attend the rally but injured her back.

In any event, she was not planning to speak.

"Could some people see a conflict? Yes. Do I? No," Ms Smith said.

United Voice assistant secretary Karma Lord will lead the education campaign for now. ( ABC News: Rebecca Carmody )

"The way we run the union, it's not all about the secretary, I don't have to be front and centre of everything.

"I'm president of the party, I'm not president of the Government, I'm not party to decisions the Government takes.

"I don't think there is a compromise."

Despite denying a conflict, Ms Smith said United Voice assistant secretary Karma Lord would speak for the union on education matters in the future.

Ms Lord attended last week's rally and, unlike Ms Smith, did not need to exercise restraint.

"I specifically want to call bullshit on this claim that removing backroom staff doesn't impact children," she said.

"That is complete rubbish, we know that isn't true. Everything has flow-on effects.

"When they pick a fight with you, they're picking a fight with all of us. Unity is our strength and we're with you whatever you choose to do."

Others do see a conflict

State secretary of the Transport Workers' Union (TWU) Tim Dawson said the position of ALP president should not be occupied by a union secretary or member of Parliament, because of conflicting interests.

TWU state secretary Tim Dawson believes there could be problems ahead for Ms Smith. ( ABC News )

"It does become a problem," Mr Dawson said.

"The perception of [union] members is, 'are you fighting enough for us?'"

If Ms Smith wanted to flex her muscles, there is no doubt she could.

She has friends in powerful places.

Eight out of 17 WA Cabinet ministers owe their positions to her, as does half of the 55-member caucus — and if not for her support, Mr McGowan may not have survived Stephen Smith's leadership challenge in 2016.

Ms Smith has friends in high places, including federal Labor leader Bill Shorten. ( Facebook: Putting Our Kids First )

When Ms Smith withdraws her support, it is career stalling or fatal, as former ALP state secretary Simon Mead discovered in 2015 when she effectively gave him his marching orders.

So will she be campaigning?

While Ms Smith will not be "front and centre" of the education debate, she insists she will not be absent either.

"We're not a party that's scared of robust debates," she said.

"We're not a party that's scared of workers taking action."

Whether the latter is true will become evident soon enough.

CPSU/CSA members have resolved to take industrial action on February 1 if their demands are not met, and with a state budget that leaves the Government no wriggle room, workers are facing certain disappointment.

It is not clear what form their industrial action will take, but the CPSU/CSA will be asking the SSTU and United Voice to lend their support — after all, Ms Lord promised "we're with you whatever you choose to do".

That leads to a final question.

Will Ms Smith recommend industrial action to her members — action that can only spell trouble for the political party over which she now presides?