Hero photograph
 
Photo by Rob Naysmith

Day of Action - Strike 14 November

Rob Naysmith —

Things you need to know.

Kia ora All

This year, teachers and principals in primary and area schools are negotiating their next collective agreement.

The key features of this negotiation are:

  • More resources and staff to support children with additional learning needs.

  • make teaching an attractive and valued profession again.

  • reinstate the profile of our profession to ensure current and future generations have high calibre teachers and young people are attracted to teaching as a career.


Teachers and principals are pleased with the announcement, made on the 4th of November, that the Government will fully fund the equivalent of 600 Learning Support Coordinator positions in 2020. This is a big win for children and for teachers and principals. Having a funded LSC/SENCO position in every school is a core claim in our Kua Tae Te Wā campaign in addressing and supporting children with learning needs.

However pay and conditions are still under negotiation. We have a crisis in recruitment and retention of teachers and principals. Enrolments in teacher training have dropped 40% between 2010 and 2016, alongside growing school rolls and an aging existing teacher workforce. Current projections indicate that schools are expected to be 2400 teachers short by 2025.

Since the early 2000s teacher salaries have dropped significantly relative to the median NZ salary from 1.8 times the median (for experienced teachers on the top of the pay scale) to just over 1.5. In effect, this means jobs that used to earn less than teachers now earn more.

Failure to win the battle to reinstate the profile of our profession is a guarantee to designate future generations of children to an inferior ​standard of education. Larger classes, and less support for those children in need.

​New Zealand has a problem that is building the longer we wait to address issues in education.

Following an online ballot, the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa announced that primary teachers and principals will participate in rolling strikes during the week of the 12th to the16th of November. Christchurch teachers and principals will be on strike for the day on November 14. Parents should plan for the strike but teachers hope issues can be resolved before then.

Parents will need to make alternative arrangements for 14 November.

We want to:

  • make teaching an attractive and valued profession again.

  • reinstate the profile of our profession to ensure current and future generations have high calibre teachers and young people are attracted to teaching as a career.

What you possibly didn’t know:

  • Teachers and principals are asking for a total package that would cost $900 million to address the raised issues. The Government has a 5.5 billion dollar surplus. It could spend 16% of that surplus on education or continue to save it all for a ‘rainy day’. We see the current crisis in our schools as education’s ‘rainy day’.

  • The government currently only provides 25% of funding we (Halswell School) currently allocate for supporting children with different or challenging learning needs. Without increased government funding we may struggle to maintain our current level of support in future years.

Rob and Nicky will be available in the stadium 8.30am to 9am on Thursday 8th November to answer questions, provide further information and explain to you how you can help our cause.

You could sign the petition to Education Minister Chris Hipkins.

You might like to write to our local MP:

Contact Hon Ruth Dyson

Port Hills electorate office

Phone: 03 376 4512

Fax: 03 376 4514

Email: porthills.mp@parliament.govt.nz or ruth.dyson@parliament.govt.nz

You could call on the Finance Minister to address the funding allocation allowed for education:

Contact Hon Grant Robertson

Email: g.robertson@ministers.govt.nz
Phone +64 4 817 8703

On the 14th we will be marching with our colleagues. This starts at Horncastle Arena at 11:00 am and ends at corner of Deans Ave and Riccarton Ave. You are welcome to come and join us.

Thank you for your support.