Media Release

23 September 2009

Let’s hope polytechnic dispute doesn’t roll into student holidays
 

With the employment dispute at six polytechnics now in its second week Tertiary Education Union members are worried that it could linger into and beyond the holiday period. Staff at NorthTec, Bay of Plenty Polytechnic, Waikato Institute of Technology, and Western Institute of Technology in Taranaki, Whitireia Polytechnic and Unitec have been involved in industrial action including a day long strike, lightning strikes and wear red campaign days since Wednesday last week.

Many polytechnics are scheduled to end term this week and enter a holiday period for students.  Although union members have amended their initial claim considerably in an effort to progress negotiations the employers still have not made any changes to their offer of one percent for two and half years in tandem with significant losses to current working conditions. 

TEU national industrial officer Irena Brorens is worried that intransigence could result in this industrial dispute continuing on through students’ holidays and into their crucial exam and study period next term.

“We are keen to negotiate, but the employers’ stance is simply not realistic,” said Ms Brorens. "These staff are doing all they can for their polytechnics and for their students. Enrolments are up and these tutors and lecturers are crucial in the current economic environment, giving job skills to people who need them.  Instead of recognising that, their employers are telling them that they are not working hard enough, and that they should be paid less. It’s simply not acceptable.”

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