KEY POINTS:
Pay negotiations are continuing over an offer from the Ministry of Education to secondary school teachers.
Neither party would comment today on reports from Radio New Zealand that a deal estimated to cost the Government more than $750 million had been struck.
The broadcaster said the ministry had met the teachers' original claim, lodged in May, for a 12 per cent pay rise over three years.
A bonus of $750 per teacher was also included.
The original claim was costed at more than $300 million, but under pay parity, the deal must be extended to primary school and early childhood education teachers, bringing the total cost to more than $750 million.
A Post Primary Teachers Association spokesman said details were still being negotiated and the group would be unable to comment until a package had been agreed upon and taken the union's members.
Negotiations could continue for weeks, he said.
The ministry similarly will not comment until negotiations are complete.
The teachers were seeking improved pay and conditions, with a pay increase of 7.5 per cent over one year.
The teachers were to strike yesterday, but the PPTA called off the industrial action on Monday, saying the offer had improved sufficiently to continue pay talks.
President Robin Duff said most of the substantive issues had been resolved during negotiations at the weekend and the parties were hopeful a settlement could be finalised soon.
- NZPA
