Polytechnic staff vote to strike
 

Tertiary Education Union members at six polytechnics have voted overwhelmingly in favour of taking industrial action. 

The six polytechnics involved are NorthTec, Bay of Plenty Polytechnic, Waikato Institute of Technology, Western Institute of Technology in Taranaki, Whitireia Polytechnic and Unitec.

The vote follows a proposal from their employers that would have increased teaching days by 10 percent (from 185 per year to 204), and could require all discretionary leave to be at the employers’ discretion rather than the employees’, as it is at present. It also included a one percent salary increase with no back-dating and a 24 month term from the date of signing (effectively one percent for two and half years).

The outcome of the ballots across the six polytechnics was a 98% vote in support of industrial action.

As a result of this and feedback from the meetings, the TEU bargaining team has written again to the polytechnic employers informing them that TEU members have overwhelmingly supported taking industrial action. The letter also included a counter proposal to settle the negotiations.  The letter requests a response to this proposal by Monday 14 September. In the meantime union members at the six polytechnics are preparing for industrial action, including possible strike. 

“TEU members were extremely frustrated at the offer from their employer.  At the meetings they said they felt aggrieved by the pay offer and the total disregard by employers for the flexibility that already exists in the collective agreement.  No other employers have demanded these cuts in conditions,” said TEU national industrial officer Irena Brorens.

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