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Settlement won’t be reached through a strike

Settlement won’t be reached through a strike

The Ministry of Education will continue to invite the PPTA back to the bargaining table, and urged the PPTA to call off the planned strike by secondary teachers, the Ministry of Education said today.

“We are deeply disappointed by the PPTA’s decision to disrupt schools, families and communities in this way,” said Group Manager Education Workforce Fiona McTavish.

“The only place to achieve a settlement is at the bargaining table. We continue to urge the PPTA to call off its planned strike, come back to the table, and give us a better idea of its priorities for its 46 claims,” she said.

“The Ministry has made a very fair and reasonable offer. We have been clear with the PPTA from the start about the Government’s expectations for bargaining this year, and about the tight fiscal environment in which we’re working.

“We have also been clear that the Government can’t afford the generous teacher salary increases of the past.

“In the 10 years to March 2010, overall average teacher pay increased by $24,243, or almost 50%. In the last bargaining round in 2007, the PPTA won a 12.5% cumulative increase over three years.

“These increases outstrip other public sector and private sector increases over the same period,” she said.

Fiona McTavish said the Ministry had been constructive in its approach.

“After the PPTA rejected our first offer, we presented a revised offer that addressed their main concerns. Their response has been to take the option of strike action out to their members,” she said.

“The Ministry remains ready and willing to bargain. It is increasingly frustrating that the PPTA can’t or won’t hear the clear message it’s getting from the Government.

“Other State sector unions have reached realistic settlements that are in line with government expectations. We urge the PPTA to take the same approach,” she said.

ENDS

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