Work Needed To Bridge Gap Between Claims

Work Needed To Bridge Gap Between Claims

Both PPTA and the Ministry of Education presented claims for the Secondary Teachers’ Collective Agreement (STCA) today, but it will take some work to bring the two together, PPTA president Kate Gainsford says.

PPTA’s claim focused on professional support for teachers, student and teacher learning conditions, remuneration and good employment conditions.

But the ministry’s claim did little to address recruitment and retention issues, Gainsford said.

She hoped, however, that through the negotiations process both parties would be able to find some common ground.

The negotiations have proceeded differently this round in that two sets of claims were put on the table on the same day.

The ministry’s claim carefully avoided any mention of money at all, Gainsford said.

“Both parties have put a lot of claims on the table and due process is that all of these need to be discussed, so there is a lot of work to be done,” she said.

“We are fully cognizant of the fiscal environment, but see the time we have together at the bargaining table as a way resolve problems. We have been able to do this in the past, and we have signaled our intention is to continue with that approach.

“It’s a chance for this government to invest in education as a response to the global financial crisis – and not use it as an excuse for short-sighted cuts,” she said.

The next step will be to inform members of the ministry’s claim, Gainsford said.

PPTA executive will meet on Wednesday and formal responses will be tabled on dates set aside for bargaining later in May.

ENDS

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