US unionist set to tell teachers how to win

More strikes by primary and secondary teachers look on the cards as both teacher groups gather for their annual conferences this week.

The conferences will hear from an American teacher unionist, Dale Lee, president of the West Virginia Education Association, who says education strikes can help win political support to overcome shortages.

Primary teachers at the NZ Educational Institute (NZEI) conference in Rotorua are expected to decide today on their recommended next action — most likely a two-day strike next term — after a oneday strike on August 15.

Secondary teachers will meet a day later in Wellington and are also expected to reject an opening offer from the Ministry of Education in response to the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) claim for a 15 per cent pay rise.

However, they are expected to talk further with the ministry before taking industrial action.

Jason Downes, 46, a teacher at Koru School in Mangere, said all NZEI work sites had been asked to choose between options for the next action by primary schools, including a two-day national strike, rolling regional stoppages and a workto-rule, which would see teachers stop doing tasks outside their job descriptions, such as coaching sports and organising school productions.

“That information will be fed back to us at this conference,” he said at the opening of the NZEI meeting.

“I think a number of members within my site are looking at possible strikes, and the work-to-rule actually costs us more because it’s deemed as a potential strike and becomes an ongoing thing.”

Manpreet Dhaliwal, 36, from Hingaia Primary School at Karaka, said the work-to-rule would also be more disruptive for students.

“We don’t want to put a burden on our families, but if we need to make our voices heard maybe we will walk out again,” she said.

The NZEI is seeking a 16 per cent pay rise over two years plus more staffing to reduce teachers’ workloads.

After the first strike, the ministry amended its offer to a flat 9.3 per cent rise over three years for all teachers. But NZEI members rejected the offer “overwhelmingly” in an electronic vote last week.

The decision to invite Lee is a sign both unions are digging in for a hard fight.

Lee will explain how his union helped win a 5 per cent pay rise after a nine-day strike in February and March.

Their success has sparked similar strikes in five other states as the United States grapples with a teacher shortage similar to New Zealand’s.