Teachers to vote on possible agreement in contract dispute

Education Minister Anne Tolley. Photo / Hawkes Bay Today

Secondary school teachers will meet during the next two weeks to decide whether to ratify a settlement of their collective agreement with the Ministry of Education.

Their union, the Post Primary Teachers Association (PPTA), and the ministry had been negotiating since last year in an acrimonious dispute over pay and conditions that led to several days of strike action in the last school year.

Thousands of students stayed at home after the parties were unable to reach agreement over class sizes and hours, security of the collective agreement without clawbacks, and a 4 per cent pay rise the teachers were seeking.

Negotiations resumed at the beginning of this year and agreement had been reached on a proposed settlement to be put to all members for ratification, the PPTA said today.

Branch meetings would be held over the next two weeks to enable members to consider the proposal and vote on it.

PPTA president Robin Duff would not discuss details of the settlement until members had voted.

"With the situation the country is in at present, it would be good to achieve a settlement and return to some sense of normality," he said.

Education Minister Anne Tolley welcomed the decision to hold ratification meetings.

"This settlement, subject to ratification by members, is fantastic news for students, parents and schools," said Mrs Tolley.

"It removes the threat of further industrial action, which has caused disruption for families. Secondary schools will now be able to concentrate on lifting achievement and getting great results for our young people."

- NZPA