Media Release
23rd July 2002
Teachers give ADR green light
Secondary teachers have voted for an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) process as a possible means of settling their
long-running struggle with the Government.
PPTA president Jen McCutcheon said the vote, by 76% of members, meant that the rostering action tomorrow (Wednesday) and
one-day strike planned for Friday, would not proceed.
"The Executive now has a clear mandate from members to pursue an arbitrated solution to this dispute, so all high-level
industrial action will be suspended until the process is complete and members have decided whether or not to accept the
outcomes of such a process."
Bans on day relief, attendance at out-of-hours meetings, involvement in extra-curricular activities, compliance with
NCEA Level 1, and work related to the development of Levels 2 and 3 of the NCEA, would remain in place, at least until
this weekend's meeting of the national executive. The bans will be reviewed at the meeting.
Mrs McCutcheon said comments from members, attached to their voting results, indicated a distinct unhappiness with the
interference last week of the Education Minister and School Trustees Association president, in the consultation process.
"I'm sure that encouraged a good number of our members to vote against the proposal."
Many members were also sceptical about the composition of the ADR panel, in particular Dame Margaret Bazley and Doug
Martin. "Neither of these people are deemed to be union-friendly but they are independent thinkers with integrity.
However most members have decided to give this arbitration process a go and ultimately they will decide whether the
outcomes fly or die."
Ends