Rachel Burnett, an English teacher at Dargaville High School, at the Post Primary Teachers' Association in Wellington where teachers rejected the ministry's offer. Photo/Supplied
Rachel Burnett, an English teacher at Dargaville High School, at the Post Primary Teachers' Association in Wellington where teachers rejected the ministry's offer. Photo/Supplied
Northland educators say the Government needs to start listening and act urgently as secondary teachers reject an "insulting" pay offer and primary school teachers consider further strike action.
Secondary school teachers attending the Post Primary Teachers' Association conference in Wellington have rejected the Ministry of Education's latest offer which unionmembers say did not address concerns about pay, working conditions and secondary teacher recruitment and retention.
It comes after primary and intermediate education union NZEI announced they will vote in the first week of term 4 on whether to hold a national week of one-day strike actions in November, after rejecting the ministry's offer of a 9.3 per cent pay rise over three years.
Rachel Burnett, an English teacher at Dargaville High School who was at the PPTA conference, said the ministry's offer of a 3 per cent pay rise for most teachers; 2.5 per cent for new teachers and 2 per cent for others was "insulting".
"I was insulted. I think a lot of us were. More so that so many parts of our claim weren't even addressed, weren't even acknowledged and it was insulting."
Union members are asking for a pay rise of 15 per cent for a one-year term and additional annual increases of 3.8 per cent, among other things like an accommodation allowance for teachers in areas with high rents and more non-contact time - which is time for planning.
Burnett, 25, has been teaching for two years and said one of the biggest issues is keeping teachers in the profession and attracting graduates.
She said it would be hard to find a teacher who did not take work home with them.
"I think one of the big concerns for people my age going in to teaching is whether we'd actually be able to stay in it.
"It's a worry with the time and pay whether we'd be able to have a family and stay in the profession, that we can't pursue life-long learning in terms of retraining ... and that I wouldn't be able to stay and have the lifestyle I've worked hard for."
Education Minister Chris Hipkins said the PPTA's 15 per cent pay claim was "out of the ballpark".
"We do want to spend more on education. But we can't make up for nine years of educational and wider social neglect in one budget, or even one term of government," he said at the conference.
Kaeo Primary School principal Paul Barker said there is not much option other than to strike again. Photo/Peter de Graaf
Meanwhile, Kaeo Primary School principal Paul Barker said while primary and intermediate school teachers striked in August over pay and workload, he believed there wasn't much choice but to strike again and said he was "disgusted" by the ministry's latest offer.
"Teachers are giving people and I'm sure there's scope to move in terms of the pay rate, but teachers are at that stage where there's no scope to move on how well we can do our job."
Barker said the offer also failed to address workload issues.
"We've fallen behind in operational funding to do all the things we want to do for the kids, we've fallen behind in supporting kids with special needs, we've fallen behind with getting the assistance to cope with kids who are troubled.
"The offer was largely focused on the 3 per cent a year pay rise. None of the things that we've been trying to get in terms of special education, in terms of dealing with troubled kids, in terms of school funding, were addressed at all."
"I think what the ministry should learn from the fact that both groups of teachers have resoundingly said that the offer is unacceptable, is that they need to start learning what the problems are."
Iona Holsted, Ministry of Education secretary of education, said the ministry will continue to negotiate with NZEI to avoid disruption for children and their families and to reach a settlement.
"The Government and the ministry have advanced work across a range of areas to address other aspects of the union's claim and to improve conditions for teachers and principals.
"The Government removed National Standards because teachers said it significantly contributed to their workload."
PPTA key claims
• A pay rise of 15 per cent for a one-year term, taking the top of the pay scale to $89,700 and entry rate to $58,800, plus additional annual increases of 3.8 per cent.
• Access to an accommodation allowance of a maximum $100 per week for teachers in areas with rents 110 per cent higher than the national median rental price.
• Management salary units to increase from $4000 to $6000 (units recognise management or extra responsibilities).
• Middle-management and senior-management allowances rise from $1000 to $1500.
• Non-contact time to increase from five to six hours for all full-time teachers.
• Non-contact time to increase by another hour for middle leaders
