Iona Holsted, Secretary for Education:
We invited the NZEI Te Riu Roa and NZPPTA to join us in applying to the Employment Relations Authority for independent
facilitated bargaining over four days ago - Friday 10 May.
We have since extended the time we asked for a response from both unions, at their request.
We are serious about taking all action available to us to avert the significant disruption a strike would cause to young
people and their families, as well as to employers.
Independent facilitated bargaining is the strongest form of assistance available to reach a negotiated settlement.
In the light of the proposed strike, it would be wrong for me to continue to delay, and not take this action.
We filed applications with the Employment Relations Authority for independent facilitated bargaining with NZEI Te Riu
Roa and NZPPTA this afternoon.