PPTA
We stand for education.

Media Release

28 February 2002

Teacher’s picket on strike day

The nation’s secondary teachers will picket, rally and write letters during tomorrow’s strike.

Teachers are striking over the lack of settlement on the secondary teachers collective agreement. Teachers rejected a proposed settlement from the Government earlier this month.

“Our members will be out on the streets tomorrow with placards and banners urging the Government to give them a better deal. They will be picketing MP’s offices, local Ministry of Education offices and schools. Rallies are planned in Auckland and Christchurch while in Wellington members will deliver letters to Education Minister Trevor Mallard’s office explaining why they are striking and what needs to be done about their conditions of work,” PPTA president Jen McCutcheon said.

“Hopefully the Government will get the message from the action teachers are taking that they are not happy, that they need better working conditions and that their profession deserves more recognition. Our members are prepared to take further industrial action until they get this recognition,” Mrs McCutcheon said.

“We have a serious recruitment and retention problem in secondary schools. It’s time the Government realised this and did something about it.”

Members will be asked during the next six days what further industrial action they are prepared to take in support of a better collective employment agreement.

These actions include continuing the day relief ban, more strikes, a range of options surrounding the NCEA and a ban on extra and co-curricular activities and out-of-hours meetings.

“Once we have feedback from our members we’ll be able to put together a plan of action,” Mrs McCutcheon said.

“We are aware this strike and any further industrial action will cause disruption to students and parents but we ask that they support us in our quest for a better education system that will benefit everyone not just today, but tomorrow as well,” Mrs McCutcheon said.

Ends
For further comment, contact Jen McCutcheon on (04) 913 4227 (work),

Reporters please note : A list of what’s happening around the country is attached for your information. For further details contact Sharon Williams, 04 913 4246.

We stand for education.

Industrial Action Planned for 1 March 2002

Wellington
8-15 am – 8.45 am Teachers to picket schools
9am Letters delivered to local MP’s electorate offices
10.30am Teachers delivering letters to Trevor Mallard’s office at
Parliament
12.30pm Picket outside Marion Hobbs’ electorate office

Auckland
9.30am Rally at Aotea Square

Christchurch
7am-8.30am Picketing and pamphleting on main arterial routes and schools
12.30pm Rally at Victoria Square
1.30pm Pickets outside local MP’s electorate offices
2.30pm to 5pm A marking sit-in at Cathedral Square

Hutt
Am Pickets outside schools
Picket outside Ministry of Education office
Midday Pickets outside Trevor Mallard’s three electorate offices

Hamilton
Throughout the day Pickets on bridges and main arterial routes.

Thames
1pm A free sausage sizzle outside Farmers in Pollen St

Other regions will be holding meetings to be attended by elected officials.

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