Further teacher strikes possible

ROTORUA: More strikes by both primary and secondary teachers look likely as teacher groups gather for their annual conferences this week.

Primary teachers at the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) conference in Rotorua are expected to decide today on their next action — most likely a twoday strike next term — to follow up a oneday strike on August 15.

Secondary teachers will meet tomorrow in Wellington and are also expected to reject an opening offer from the Ministry of Education in response to the Post Primary Teachers’ Association claim for a 15% pay rise. However, they are expected to talk further with the ministry before taking industrial action.

Jason Downes (46), a teacher at Koru School in Mangere, said all NZEI work sites had already been asked to choose between options for the next action by primary schools, including a twoday national strike, rolling regional stoppages and a worktorule, in which teachers would stop doing tasks outside their job descriptions, such as coaching sports.

‘‘That information will be fed back to us at this conference,’’ he said at the opening of the NZEI meeting yesterday.

‘‘I think a number of members within my site are looking at possible strikes, and the worktorule actually costs us more because it’s deemed as a potential strike and becomes an ongoing thing.’’

Manpreet Dhaliwal (36), of Hingaia Primary School at Karaka, in Auckland, said the worktorule would also be more disruptive for pupils.

‘‘We don’t want to put a burden on our families, but if we need to make our voices heard maybe we will walk out again,’’ she said.

The NZEI is seeking a 16% pay rise over two years plus more staffing to reduce teachers’ workloads.

The ministry initially offered pay rises of 14.7% for new teachers, but only 6.1% at the top of the basic scale, over three years.

After the first strike, the ministry amended its offer to a flat 9.3% rise over three years for all teachers. But NZEI members rejected the amended offer ‘‘overwhelmingly’’ in an electronic vote last week.

Mr Downes, one of two staff teaching 69 year 8 pupils, said teachers needed a ‘‘pay jolt’’ to attract people into the profession.

‘‘If you look at what’s being offered, it’s like a real slap in the face. It equates to about $40 a week.’’

Carl Pynenburg (30), of Worser Bay School in Wellington, said the next step would not necessarily be another strike.

‘‘We need to find options that put pressure on the Government without putting more pressure on already stressedout teachers and families.

‘‘We have been looking at having stands at fairs where we can interact with our families and engage them. There are social media campaigns to engage some of our younger community.’’ — NZME

❛ We don’t want to put a burden on our families, but if we need to make our voices heard maybe we will walk out again