Teachers mull pay offer

Taranaki teachers are holding a series of meetings on whether to accept the Ministry of Education’s pay offers or reject them and take industrial action.

Primary teachers and principals in the New Zealand Education Institute Te Riu Roa teacher union are meeting over the next two weeks to decide whether to accept the offer, which would give about 86 per cent of teachers a pay rise of between 2.2 and 2.6 per cent a year for three years. The offer is far from the 16 per cent over two years that NZEI members have been seeking.

The union says there is increasing concern among teachers and principals that their students will suffer if teacher shortages and support for additional learning needs are not adequately addressed.

If members decide to reject the ministry’s offer, they will also vote on a half-day work stoppage on August 15.

Lead negotiator for the primary principals’ collective agreement, Louise Green, said the issues faced by the industry weigh heavily on their minds.

‘‘After a decade of neglect under the previous government, there are significant issues facing education, including a growing teacher shortage, stress and workload problems, and underresourcing. Children with additional learning needs are not getting their needs met.’’

The first Taranaki meeting took place Waverley School yesterday and will be followed by another three next week.

Meetings in Taranaki: Eltham School Hall, 2pm Tuesday, June 26

Coastal Taranaki School, 3.30pm Wednesday, June 27

Grand Ballroom, Quality Hotel New Plymouth, 2.30pm Thursday, June 28