Tolley urges teachers to return to talks

Education Minister Anne Tolley. File photo / Daily Post

Education Minister Anne Tolley today urged secondary teachers to return to the bargaining table after details of new strikes emerged today.

High school teachers plan eight days of strikes and refuse to work after 5pm in an escalation of their contracts dispute with the Ministry of Education, according to a leaked document.

The strikes were set to begin next month on October 14, with year 9, 10 and 11 pupils missing school during eight separate strikes, a PPTA document sent to teachers and obtained by NZPA shows.

From next term teachers would also make themselves unavailable for meetings including parent interviews before 8.30am and after 5pm.

Teachers would also refuse to go to work on weekends and during the holidays after term four ends.

Ms Tolley said the action would only "create uncertainty and confusion for students and parents" and urged teachers to resume negotiations.

"This will cause distress for students and parents, who are being used by the union to make a political point," she said.

"The PPTA has been very quick to walk away from bargaining, with only thirteen days of negotiations so far."

Teachers needed to recognise "that the whole country is working in difficult economic circumstances," she said.

The latest round of strikes follow a one-day nationwide strike last week after pay talks between the PPTA and the ministry failed.

PPTA president Kate Gainsford told The Dominion Post the action would not go down well with parents adding "This is a protest action not action about being popular".

Teachers are seeking a 4 per cent pay rise rejecting the ministry's offer of a 1.5 per cent pay rise and a further 1 per cent next year.

The strikes mean year 9 students would not be taught on October 20, November 2, November 18 and December 2.

Year 10 students would miss school on October 27, November 11 and November 23, while year 11 students would miss one day on October 14.

Teachers with mixed classes will continue to teach the other year levels in their class.

- NZPA