Horowhenua teachers prepared to walk off the job

Horowhenua teachers are prepared to strike for better conditions said NZEI

"Parents get it," said Levin East School principal Rikki Sheterline, about the NZEI decision to strike for a full day on August 15.

The Horowhenua members of the Union will hold a community day of action to inform parents what is about to happen.

Decision on any action to be made locally is still to be decided, but something will happen, said Horowhenua branch president Rikki Sheterline, principal of Levin East School.

"Individual school boards will decide whether their school closes or not and each school will have a plan on how to deal with this," he said.

"Today schools will hold before and after school activities to show the parents what we do as teachers and why we feel there is need for change and why lack of change has brought on the strike."

He said polling that has been done locally shows the parents are supporting the teachers.
The union's lead principal negotiator Louise Green said the decision sends a strong message to the Government that it's time to fix this crisis in teaching.

She said there needs to be better investment in education, and enough teachers for every class.

"A clear majority of both member groups voted in favour of a full day, giving a strong endorsement for collective action," she said in a statement.

The full-day strike action replaces previously planned three-hour strikes.

"We had a clear message from members at the paid union meetings and from feedback and surveys.

"It is 24 years since educators have gone on strike and this is not an action we are taking lightly," she said.

The statement quoted lead teacher negotiator Liam Rutherford as saying public opinion polling showed strong support for more taxpayer dollars being spent on education, including a significant pay increase for educators.

"The National Party's U-turn on teacher pay and new desire for smaller class sizes means there is now no political opposition to addressing the crisis in education," he said.

"The members' decision to take industrial action shows the degree of frustration and conviction among teachers and principals."

Ms Green said it was crucial to attract and retain great teachers.