Teachers may strike over pay parity

1.00pm

The union representing primary school teachers has warned they may strike soon over the same pay parity issue that prompted their last walkout nine years ago.

Primary and intermediate teachers return to classrooms today to learn that talks with the Education Ministry over their pay claim did not progress during the school holidays.

New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) acting secretary, Peter Monteith, said last night that the issue could lead to a national strike.

"That's how seriously we are treating it," he said.

The union is seeking a pay rise of about 6 per cent and better conditions for the 25,000 teachers and 2000 principals working in state primary, intermediate, area and integrated schools.

A key part of the claim is for time out of the classroom to cope with increased workloads such as planning and pupil assessment, and full recognition of primary teachers' qualifications. Secondary teachers get non-contact time for such work and extra pay for qualifications that primary teachers with similar qualifications do not get.

Primary teachers used to be paid significantly lesser amounts than secondary teachers with similar qualifications and experience.

They went on strike in 1995 over pay parity with secondary teachers, who belong to a different union and have a separate collective employment agreement. But primary teachers believe they are still not properly recognised for equivalent workloads and qualifications to secondary teachers.

The primary teachers' collective agreement expired on June 30. NZEI and ministry negotiators met for three days of talks toward a new collective agreement last week but had not made any progress, the union said.

Mr Monteith said the ministry was refusing to engage "in a meaningful way" and insisting in dealing with such issues as non-contact time outside the negotiations. Mr Monteith said teachers would get written advice about the negotiations this week, followed by a round of union branch meetings in a fortnight.

"We will be asking them to campaign politically by approaching parents and MPs and to look at industrial action to change the ministry's mind," he said.

A primary teacher with a bachelor's degree and a 12-month diploma was still paid less than a secondary teacher with the equivalent qualifications, even if the secondary diploma was not as advanced, he said.

A ministry spokeswoman said last night that the negotiations were in their early stages and more days were set aside this month for talks. The ministry looked forward to positive progress.

- NZPA