Boards well prepared for strike action

Media Release

Boards well prepared for strike action,
says NZSTA

Schools have been strongly advised to remain open during tomorrow’s secondary teacher strike action, says the New Zealand School Trustees Association.

General Manager Ray Newport says advice from NZSTA and the Ministry of Education has been sent to all secondary schools and intermediate schools likely to be affected by tomorrow’s strike by secondary teachers. Schools are advised to remain open tomorrow and during any subsequent action – and if at all possible, they are to continue to remain open for instruction.

“While schools can close in emergency situations such as epidemics, fire and floods, industrial action is not considered to constitute such an emergency according to the provisions of the Education Act.”

Ray Newport says NZSTA is advising schools that it is work as normal for any staff not involved in tomorrow’s strike action and that each school will have to make its own decision as to whether there are sufficient teachers available to teach students.

Boards of trustees who are uncertain as to the number of teachers likely to strike at their school may decide to ask parents and caregivers to keep their students at home for the day. However, schools will be providing supervision arrangements for any students who do turn up for class. Relieving teachers cannot be used to do the work of striking teachers, but schools can use relievers to help supervise students.

“For striking staff the no work-no pay principle will apply. Teachers who do take strike action, including rostering home and other forms of strike action, can expect pay deductions from their salaries,” Ray Newport says.

[Ends]
For more information contact:

Ray Newport, General Manager, NZSTA
0274 449 629 or 04 471 6414 (wk)

© Scoop Media