Bad report for timing of class disruption

Ann Sikanen says teachers have a right to a raise but should have taken action at a better time of year away from exams. Photo / Dean Purcell

Manukau parent Ann Sikanen values education and has nothing against teachers getting a pay rise, but she thinks their timing is wrong.

The mother of two is one of nearly 400 parents who took part in a Weekend Herald survey into whether teachers should be given better pay and conditions and if they should be striking to get them.

Mrs Sikanen was in the majority who disagreed with industrial action, saying the timing was wrong - both economically and because it was an important time of the school year.

"I don't have a problem with them wanting a raise but it's just that the strike action is not necessarily the way to go about it."

"Probably it's the timing of the strike action they have taken, because even though they have excluded Years 12 and 13, you have still got some Years 10 and 11 preparing for external exams.

"For parents with kids in those years, it doesn't really garner support, does it?"

Mrs Sikanen said the Government should agree to some of the teachers' terms but not all of them.

She said reducing class sizes would mean more teachers, so there wouldn't be enough money for a rise. The economic climate didn't really allow for much of a rise anyway.

"Unfortunately, this country has been in recession for two years.While their claim may be valid, there are a lot of people out there who haven't had any raise for two years and are on enforced days off every fortnight and all sorts of things just to keep their job - the timing probably isn't great."

Mrs Sikanen's son has not been affected by the strikes as he is in Year 13. Her daughter is at university.

Mrs Sikanen said she fully supported teachers because education was really important.