Primary teachers threaten pay strikes

Nearly half a millon primary school children could have to stay home early next year if pay negotiations between their teachers and the Ministry of Education do not make progress.

The New Zealand Educational Institute, the union representing 27,000 primary and intermediate teachers, yesterday warned that industrial action - including strike action of some sort - was on the cards if things did not improve by the end of the year.

After taking a vote, the group this week rejected the ministry's latest pay offer, saying it had not come up with a "fair and reasonable" offer despite four months of negotiations.

While talks have not yet broken down, negotiations leader Frances Guy said the latest offer of a $1000 lump sum in the first year followed by a 1.8 per cent increase the following year had been rejected by 93 per cent of teachers.

That vote was taken during stopwork meetings which resulted in many schools sending children home for half days this month.

Ms Guy said teachers now planned to send thousands of letters to the Government expressing their disappointment. In a show of protest they will also fill in mock timesheets showing the extra hours they work.

While that happens, the NZEI will continue to negotiate but Ms Guy said that if a settlement was not reached soon teachers would vote on whether to take industrial action.

That vote early next year would include an option to strike.

Secondary teachers have already held rolling strikes because of their failed negotiations with the ministry.

The Post Primary Teachers Association returned to the bargaining table this week for the second time since negotiations started five months ago and last night called off plans to cancel lessons for more than 60,000 Year 10 students today.

PPTA president Kate Gainsford said the action had been required by the ministry to enable discussion to continue. The focus of that was now on class size and teaching conditions.

Primary teachers want an offer which will "retain a quality education workforce", saying New Zealand is losing hundreds of teachers every year to Australia, where starting salaries are up to $20,000 higher.

They say the present offer is not enough to stop the drain and could also undermine career development and recognition for those who take on extra responsibilities.