Strike action ‘not taken lightly’
More than 800 educators from South Otago and Southland are set to take part in the nationwide primary principals and teachers strike this month.
Schools throughout the region are taking part in an ‘‘action day’’ on Friday ahead of the official strike on August 15.
The action day is a day to raise awareness about the strike to parents and wider community.
The New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa announced the strike on Wednesday. The decision follows an online ballot.
NZEI Southland field officer Ainslie Forbes said the strike, which will be the first in 24 years, was about raising awareness on the ‘‘critical state’’ the industry was in with funding, staff numbers and wages.
In South Otago and Southland, 710 teachers and 101 principals from 104 schools are taking part.
‘‘They haven’t taken this action lightly, it’s been building for a long time. It’s at the situation where they feel it’s the only option,’’ Forbes said.
However, Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters said striking wouldn’t get teachers and principals anywhere.
Peters said the decision was ‘‘hugely disappointing’’. It was almost like it was being done as a ritual. ‘‘It’s not going to get them anywhere,’’ he told The AM Show.
Forbes said: ‘‘The reason for taking this action is because there’s a crisis within teaching. If we don’t get more teachers in the profession we are going to end up with a massive teacher shortage.’’
About 40 per cent of teachers nationally leave the job within their first five years, Forbes said. The number would be similar for Southland.
With the strike, Forbes hoped the government recognised and rewarded educators what they were worth.
Although the strike was just within the primary schools sector, the issues were from early childhood to secondary school, Forbes said.
‘‘It’s time to stand up and fight.’’
Peters said if the Government had more money it would have put their pay up.
Teachers had previously planned three-hours strikes but a clear majority of both teachers and principals voted to stop work for a full day, NZEI lead principal negotiator Louise Green said.
‘‘If we don’t get more teachers in the profession we are going to end up with a massive teacher shortage.’’
NZEI Southland field officer Ainslie Forbes