Hon Bill English
National Education Spokesman

23 August 2004

Mallard offers bonus for union membership

The Government is using the education dollar to bribe teachers to join the teachers' union, says National's Education spokesman, Bill English.

Mr English has been advised that members of the PPTA have been offered a $500 bonus for signing up to the latest pay deal. Non-union members will not receive the bonus.

"Parents are keen to see teachers rewarded for competence and hard work, not for union membership," says Mr English.

"Trevor Mallard needs to explain to parents who are left to run cake stalls and sell raffle tickets to pay the salaries of 3797 teachers around the country why he is using taxpayers' money to build union membership.

"Parents send their kids to school to get a good education - they shouldn't be fodder for union politics.

"If he has this much money going spare, why can't he give it to teachers who run sports and cultural groups outside school hours? Better yet, what about a bonus for teachers who do an outstanding job in the classroom?

"I am not surprised that the PPTA agreed to a relatively low pay increase when their membership is already taken care of with this $500 bonus.

"This is just one more example of Labour and their buddies at the teachers' union putting their own interests ahead of parents and children," says Mr English.

Ends

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