Teachers’ vote overwhelming

Teachers’ vote overwhelming

At paid union meetings last week secondary teachers voted overwhelmingly to:

reject the Ministry of Education’s latest pay offer (99.3%);

support an addition to the secondary teachers’ collective agreement (STCA) claim to prevent employers applying the 90-day fire-at-will provisions heralded in upcoming legislation (90.9%);

approve the following actions in the absence of a fair and reasonable offer:

o a range of protest actions in Term 3;
o a one day strike; and
o further protest and industrial action in Term 4 if no settlement has been achieved (95.1%).

“The meetings were notable for the high degree of unity and determination among teachers,” said PPTA President, Kate Gainsford.

“Over 12,200 members attended the meetings, which is a record,” she said.

The strike day is provisionally set for Wednesday 15 September, but will be confirmed by the PPTA Executive.

Kate Gainsford said that while pay was an issue, any settlement package would also need to address members’ claims for safer school environments and better learning conditions for students.

ENDS

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