Bargaining the only way to a ratified settlement

Bargaining the only way to a ratified settlement

The Ministry of Education will continue to encourage the PPTA to work out its claims at the bargaining table, Group Manager Education Workforce Fiona McTavish said today.

“We’ve been clear with the PPTA that bargaining is the only way forward,” said Fiona McTavish.

“The PPTA will only get a ratifiable settlement through bargaining, not through the media or other channels.”

“We’ve sent them this message very strongly since the PPTA withdrew from bargaining on 27 July. We were clear then that there was no justification for either party to walk away, and we hold to that view.”

“We’re working within a tight fiscal envelope, with clear Government expectations of pay restraint across the State sector. The Ministry’s offer aims to balance our and the union’s priorities. If the PPTA has different priorities for the funding available, they need to negotiate those with us,” she said.

Fiona McTavish said the Ministry’s offer was fair and reasonable, particularly considering other recent State sector settlements and the generous teacher salary increases of recent years.

“Most recently, the 2007 bargaining round resulted in an increase of 12.5% over three years to teacher salaries,” she said.

For information on teacher employment and conditions, including recent remuneration increases, please visit
http://www.minedu.govt.nz/teacherpayandconditions

ENDS

© Scoop Media