Impasse still after GovtNZEI talks

WELLINGTON: Direct talks between the Government and the primary teachers’ union have failed to find a solution to the deadlock in teachers’ pay talks before schools start reopening next week.

New Zealand Educational Institute president Lynda Stuart said the union met Education Minister Chris Hipkins to discuss the impasse, which resulted in two strikes by the union’s members last year.

Ms Stuart said the union held the meeting with the Government ‘‘because they’re the ones that have to make the decisions’’.

However, Mr Hipkins said he had told the union the Government would not increase the $1.2 billion value of the most recent offers made to primary teachers and principals and, separately, to secondary teachers last year.

The offers included three pay rises of 3% each for most teachers and were rejected by members of the NZEI and members of the Post Primary Teachers Association last year.

Teachers and principals said at the time that they wanted a bigger pay rise and lighter workloads through smaller class sizes and increased release time from the classroom.

The Government’s refusal to provide more funding for the pay deals raises the possibility of a combined industrial campaign by the NZEI and PPTA.

However, Ms Stuart said the NZEI would need to ballot members before calling any further industrial action.

PPTA president Jack Boyle said the union had further negotiations scheduled with the Mr Hipkins next week.

Mr Boyle said the ministry needed to come up with a better offer including better conditions and a bigger pay rise.

The PPTA entered negotiations seeking a 15% pay rise, while the NZEI asked for an increase of 16% over two years. — RNZ