Last week, primary school teachers rejected the government's pay offer. Today, the PPTA recommended that secondary teachers do the same. The government is now looking at the scenario of a joint teacher's strike:
The possibility of secondary educators joining their primary school colleagues in sector-wide industrial action in the future isn't being ruled out.
The measure, which would send a powerful message about the level of industry dissatisfaction over pay and conditions offered by the Ministry of Education, has been raised as primary educators prepare to vote on national strikes next month.
If New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa members vote yes, a week of rolling strikes will take place region-by-region starting with Auckland on Monday, November 12.
The government will no doubt plead poverty, but when they're spending billions on pointless war toys, it rings a bit hollow. The blunt fact is that teachers have been underpaid and understaffed for years. Now, its time for the government to pay up. Or they can teach their own damn kids.
