Vote for more strikes as pay talks hit wall

Independent facilitators are being called on to help break deadlocked contract negotiations as primary principals and teachers commit to further strikes.

The result of a secret ballot among members of New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) announced on Thursday night has prompted renewed efforts to meet in the middle before a week of regional strikes in November.

Education Minister Chris Hipkins said there was ‘‘a lot of water still to go under the bridge before the proposed industrial action is due to take place’’.

Ministry of Education secretary Iona Holsted said facilitation would help advance the settlement process, and NZEI president Lynda Stuart noted union members’ ‘‘steely determination’’ to see the job through in good faith.

The Employment Relations Authority’s (ERA) Wellington office received a request for facilitation to resolve bargaining difficulties yesterday morning.

The ministry is the applicant, although it is a joint request, a Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment spokesperson advised.

‘‘As the ERA has only just received the application, no decision has been made yet as to whether the request for facilitation will be approved, although the parties have asked for the request to be dealt with urgently.’’

At the end of facilitation, the ERA can produce recommendations that the parties are obliged to consider but not necessarily accept.

Bargaining continues and employees are still able to strike.

Ministry deputy secretary Ellen MacGregor-Reid said the request was made on the ground that the proposed strikes ‘‘will disrupt social and economic interests and ... will be widespread’’.

The parties also believe the negotiations, which started in June, have become ‘‘unduly protracted’’.

Negotiations over collective contracts for nurses produced five offers from district health boards over a year-long period before an August settlement.

Stuart said the impending strikes would be disruptive, but the decision was not taken lightly.

‘‘From our perspective, we know that having a teacher shortage has widespread impact as well.’’

ROLLING STRIKE DATES

Wider Auckland region: Monday, November 12 North Island (except Auckland and Wellington): Tuesday, November 13 Wider Christchurch region (including Ellesmere, Ashley, Mid-Canterbury, Malvern, Huru nui and Aronui Tomua Waitaha): Wednesday, November 14 South Island (except wider Christchurch): Thursday, November 15 Wider Wellington region: Friday, November 16

‘‘We know that having a teacher shortage has widespread impact as well.’’

NZEI president Lynda Stuart

REJECTED OFFERS Primary teachers:

Increase base salary scale by 3 per cent each year for the next three years. New teachers’ starting rate $49,419, increasing to $50,902 (2019) and $52,429 (2020).

Mid-grade teachers $61,410, increasing to $63,252 next year and $65,149 in 2020. Teachers at top of scale to receive $82,992 in 2020.

Primary principals:

Base salary increase by 3 per cent each year from date of settlement for principals at schools with less than 100 students.

Base salary increase by 4.5 per cent + 4.5 per cent + 4.4 per cent a year for principals of schools with more than 100 students.

Both deals would have been in force for a three-year term.