Teachers strike: What's happening in Kaitāia, Kerikeri, Whangārei, Dargaville

Whangārei principals' attended a NZEI union meeting to discuss working conditions and pay earlier this year - now they are striking with teachers. Photo/John Stone

More than 1000 Northland teachers and principals will be walking out of their classrooms and on to the streets as they campaign for better pay and working conditions - and everyone is welcome to join them.

NZEI union members - including more than 1200 in Northland - voted last week to strike for an entire day next Wednesday, replacing the previously planned three-hour strikes.

There will be marches in Whangārei, Kaitāia, Kerikeri and Dargaville as part of the campaign.

Teachers and principals from all over the Far North will meet at Kaitāia Intermediate School from 10.30am and start marching into town at 11am. They will picket outside the old Pak'nSave car park and stage another event outside The Warehouse.

It is the first time a teachers strike has been held in Kaitāia as teachers travelled to Whangārei for the last strike in 1994.

Meanwhile, teachers and principals in Kerikeri will march from the Turner Centre about 11.30am after a closed meeting at 11am. They will march down the main street of Kerikeri to the park by the Procter Library.

In Whangārei NZEI members will be picketing at their schools from 8.15am before meeting at Forum North at 11am. They will begin marching in to the CBD about 12pm.

Dargaville teachers and principals will be meeting at the Methodist Hall at 10.30am and will begin marching to the Countdown carpark at 11am. They will stay there for about an hour and then walk to The Central Hotel Dargaville where they will stand outside talking to the public.

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

Parents, whānau and anyone who wants to support teachers and principals are encouraged to wear bright colours, bring a banner or flag, and join in on the marches.

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 16 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.