Northland teacher says it will be 'disastrous' if nothing changes after strike

Maungatapere School teacher Tina Hodgson said paperwork has tripled since she started teaching 30 years ago. Photo/John Stone

If nothing changes, it will be disastrous.

That's the message Whangārei teacher Tina Hodgson has for the Government as primary and intermediate school teachers and principals get ready to strike this month.

"Teachers will just keep leaving, special needs kids won't be catered for, high-ability kids won't be catered for, classroom sizes will increase, teachers will continue to be sick and exhausted."

NZEI union members - including more than 1200 in Northland - have voted to walk out of the classrooms for an entire day on August 15 as they campaign for better pay and working conditions.

It replaces previously planned three-hour strikes and comes after NZEI and the Ministry of Education agreed on Tuesday to enter mediation over collective agreement negotiations.

Hodgson, who teaches years 3 and 4 at Maungatapere School, said she now spends less time preparing for teaching sessions than she did 30 years ago, despite working longer hours, because the amount of paperwork had tripled.

"When I used to walk into a classroom back in the day I would have everything there, every kid catered for, for every subject.

"Now you walk into a classroom after staying up until 11pm, 12am doing paperwork and reports and you're exhausted and less prepared than we used to be."

There are four main issues NZEI members are focusing on - the crisis in education, time and workload, salary, and career development.

The Ministry of Education had offered to increase pay, in the majority of cases, by between 2.2 and 2.6 per cent a year for three years. That offer was a far cry from the 16 per cent increase teachers felt was needed over the two years to retain teachers and help recruit new ones.

"That's not even keeping up with inflation... A lot of teachers are living week to week and that's why they're leaving and going in to other professions," Hodgson said.

The starting base rate for teachers with a three-year bachelor of teaching is currently $47,980, with the highest rate at $75,949 for those who have been teaching for seven to eight years.

Hodgson said the strike was a long time coming. The last time teachers went on strike was 24 years ago.

"It is going down hill fast that's why we have to say no, we're sorry we have to do this," she said.

Education Minister Chris Hipkins said he encouraged all of the parties to continue with mediation.

"If we can avoid strike action that would be great."

• TEACHERS STRIKE - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
• In June NZEI rejected the Ministry's offer to increase pay, in the majority of cases, by between 2.2 and 2.6 per cent for three years.
• Teachers and principals want a 1 per cent pay rise over the two years.
• Members also want to fix the teacher shortage crisis, more time to teach and lead, and to fix issues related to career development.
• It is the first primary school teachers' strike since 1994.
• The Secretary of Education decides on any pay deductions.
• There will be lots of events, marching and picketing on strike day.
• An unscientific Facebook poll by the Advocate showed 99 people supported the strike while 28 did not.
• There are 1200 teacher members in Northland, and 117 principal members.

INFO FOR PARENTS
• It is the school board's decision whether or not to close a school - contact your children's school to find out what's happening.
• If a board decides the school will remain open it is up to them to decide who supervises the children.