Teacher strike on!

Horowhenua NZEI members assemble at the Levin Memorial Hall to discuss the Government's latest pay offer.

Horowhenua's primary school teachers went on strike on Tuesday hoping to achieve a better pay and conditions offer from the Government.

NZEI members gathered at the Levin memorial Hall at 11am for a meeting to discuss the latest pay offer, which came in late last week.

After the meeting they held a march through Levin, said Levin East School principal Rikki Sheterline, who is also the chair of the Horowhenua branch of the teachers union NZEI and a member of that union executive. The teachers had the rest of the day off.

Horowhenua NZEI members marching through Levin on Tuesday November 13 2018

"We went into facilitation with the Government, that is a process led by the Employment Relation Authority. The latest pay offer came in too late to avert the strike," Sheterline said.

"There was not enough time to cancel the strike. You need to give a few days notice and the strike was planned for Tuesday. We also haven't had time to read the new offer.

"We need time to get a feeling from across the country on how our members see the new offer."

Horowhenua NZEI members marching through Levin on Tuesday November 13 2018

He said the new offer only addressed one thing, but the strike action is about so much more. "The current offer does not address all three areas of concern, for example it does not address the fact that we need more time to teach, nor does it address the need for additional support for special needs kids.

"Our members are pretty resolute," he said, adding that "no-one likes to strike, but 'we need to get it right for the kids and our community here in Horowhenua are behind us."