Teachers want a slice of extra cash

Primary school teachers and principals are on the verge of a second strike over pay offers, and now their union is fuming after the Government’s $5.5 billion surplus announcement.

New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa said yesterday the Treasury’s report of extra cash meant there was room to end the education sector’s crisis ‘‘today’’.

President Lynda Stuart said the Government could avoid ‘‘potential strike action’’ in November by investing in the sector to ensure smaller class sizes, staff support and better pay opportunities – at a 16 per cent pay increase.

The union announced earlier this month that rolling strike action could be on the cards, with members to vote on whether to strike again in the first week of term four, which starts on October 15.

‘‘Up until now the Government has said they don’t have the money to improve their offer to teachers,’’ Stuart said. ‘‘Today’s figures show the Government has the room to move if they have the political will to do so.’’

The annual cost would be 17 per cent of the $5.5b surplus, or about $921 million.

The NZEI members’ secret ballot will run between October 16 and 25.

Finance Minister Grant Robertson said nurses, who also held strikes over pay earlier this year, and teachers could be ‘‘confident’’ the Government continued to manage the books carefully.