Te Tai Tokerau Principals' Association president and Hora Hora Primary School principal Pat Newman was gratified by displays of public support for striking teachers in Northland on Wednesday, and warned that if the government didn't listen, more strikes would be "a reality".
"Rolling strikes and other action can be very much expected — they can be guaranteed," he said. PPTA members are to begin five weeks of rolling strikes this week.
"I don't think I've seen the teaching profession so united, to be honest. And I first went to train in 1973."
Ōpua School teacher and NZEI Bay of Islands president Juliette Ridge spoke about a colleague's salary when she addressed the rally in Whangārei. A beginning teacher's salary was $47,980, she said. Her colleague, "after a lifetime of teaching," was earning $12,000 more than that.
"She works a 60-hour week regularly. She's basically earning just above the minimum wage. Is this fair?" she asked. The crowd responded with a loud 'No'. Mr Newman wasn't planning to back down.