Thursday, 16 August 2018, 1:25 pm Press Release: NZEI
Teachers look forward to negotiations after strong show of
support 16 August 2018
Support for teachers and
principals in rallies all over the country yesterday was
overwhelming, says NZEI Te Riu Roa President Lynda
Stuart.
“Without exception, from the big cities to small
rural towns people turned up in their thousands. We have not
seen anything like this for 24 years and it shows the depth
of feeling and that it’s time for these important issues
to be addressed. This has started a movement that will not
be stopped now and it’s for the children of this country -
it is their futures that we are talking about.”
A straw
poll of the crowds at the rallies showed strong support for
a two-day strike if it was needed, but this is only
indicative of feeling, not a decision, Mrs Stuart
said.
“We look forward to continuing negotiations with
the Ministry of Education and will be entering these in good
faith.
“We expect there will be a new negotiating
mandate from the Ministry based on the strong show of
support yesterday. We will take any new proposals out to
members to consider before any decision would be made about
any further industrial action."
Meanwhile, it has been
reported in the media today that a 14 percent pay offer was
on the table.
“I want to be clear about this - for 85
percent of teachers the offer is only just over 2 percent a
year - which is not dissimilar to a cost of living
increase.
“A larger increase has been offered to
beginning teachers but would only bring their starting
salary to above the average
median.”
NZEI Te Riu Roa members work in every community in New Zealand, leading and advocating for quality public education.
We are the 50,000 principals, teachers and support staff who work in primary, area and secondary schools as well as early childhood centres, special education and school advisory services. We come together as NZEI Te Riu Roa - New Zealand's largest education union, a Treaty based organisation and a powerful advocate for quality public education.
We have the most important job in New Zealand - educating for the future.
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