Rotorua teachers set to strike | Rotorua News | Local News in Rotorua

Rotorua secondary school teachers will strike this month despite the Ministry of Education saying it won't make a difference.

Schools around the country will close on September 15 as teachers strike for the first time in eight years. The action comes after a paid union meeting at which teachers voted overwhelmingly to reject the Government's latest pay offer.

John Paul College principal and New Zealand Principals Association president Patrick Walsh said striking was the last resort after three months of negotiations.

He hoped they would be able to head back to the bargaining table and reach an agreement before the strike date.

"It's not helpful for students' learning," he said.

A lot of schools would remain open on the day of the strike with teachers who weren't members of the PPTA available to supervise those whose parents could not organise alternative care.

The ministry stated this week it would continue to invite the PPTA back to the bargaining table and urged teachers to call off the strike.

Group manager Education Workforce Fiona McTavish said the ministry was "deeply disappointed" by the PPTA's decision to disrupt schools, families and communities in this way".

Ms McTavish said the ministry had made a fair and reasonable offer.

"We have been clear with the PPTA from the start about the Government's expectations for bargaining this year and about the tight fiscal environment in which we're working."

Ms McTavish said the ministry had been constructive in its approach and remained ready and willing to bargain.

"It is increasingly frustrating that the PPTA can't or won't hear the clear message it's getting from the Government."

Prime Minister John Key said potential strike action showed "how disconnected they [teachers] are from the real world".

He said the sector had got significant wage increases over the past 10 years and the economic conditions facing the Government had to be considered.

PPTA president Kate Gainsford said money was not the only issue.

"It's not just a problem about what teachers have in their back pocket. There are a whole range of claims in our package, and none of them have been addressed - none of them have been thought about, none of them have been responded to."

 

WHAT TEACHERS WANT

A 4 per cent pay rise

An extra 1 per cent KiwiSaver employer contribution

Laptops

Immunisation against contagious diseases

Class sizes capped at 30, 24 in classes with hazards such as woodwork and some science classes

More staff to combat workload