Secondary teachers kick-start pay negotiations

Contract negotiations for primary school teachers should not have any bearing on what is available for their high school counterparts, the union says.

But Education Minister Chris Hipkins says the pay rises teachers’ unions seek are ‘‘unreasonable’’.

The Post-Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) and the Ministry of Education began negotiations yesterday over the union’s claim for a 15 per cent pay rise over one year, among other demands.

Primary teachers’ union New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) had asked for a 16 per cent pay rise over two years. In July, its members voted to strike, rejecting the Government’s offer of pay rises ranging from 6.1 per cent to 14.7 per cent over three years. Primary schools with high numbers of unionised members have begun announcing plans to close on August 15 – the day of the nationwide strike.

PPTA’s finalised statement of claim also includes more noncontact time for teachers, allowances for teachers in areas with expensive housing, and new Ma¯ori and Pasifika community liaison roles.

PPTA president Jack Boyle said parallel negotiations between the ministry and NZEI, and the Government’s claims it cannot meet the demands of multiple sectors considering industrial action, should not affect the PPTA’s claim. ‘‘They said the same with the nurses and they have settled.’’

The Ministry of Education has been approached for comment.