More than 100 early childhood education (ECE) centres will close on Wednesday after teachers agreed to strike for the first time.
From 1pm on Wednesday, the doors to around 100 centres from Whangārei through to Dunedin will close as workers fight for better pay and support for teachers.
The teachers, who are part of the Early Childhood Education Collective Agreement (ECECA), say negotiations have stalled with the Government not offering the level of funding needed for non-profit ECEs to function.
More funding is needed to support better teaching ratios and teachers.
Union spokesperson Megan White, from the New Zealand Educational Institue, said the current funding model is a “one-size-fits-all” that is not fit for purpose.