Unions stood behind NZEI Te Riu Roa members who today voted to reject the latest collective agreement offer from the Government, and urged for a speedy resolution to the industrial process. Council of Trade Unions President Richard Wagstaff said that the fastest resolution will be an offer that adequately addresses workload issues and growing class sizes, as well making sure we have enough primary teachers in our classrooms.
“It’s in nobody’s interests that children’s learning needs aren’t being met in busy environments with teacher shortages, after nine long years of underfunding. Unions members and for that matter most parents of young children want to see a swift improvement in the conditions in classrooms and for our teachers. Certainly nobody wants teachers to have to take industrial action to achieve that.”
“Taking time out of the classroom to protect their profession and quality education would be a last resort for most teachers, and certainly there’s still time for that to be prevented. We know that this Government is committed to reinvesting in the education so many children in this country have missed out on over the last decade. Demonstrating their commitment to the future of Kiwi kids with an improved offer for our primary teachers and principals is within the mandate the Coalition Government was elected on, and I know parents would back them all the way too.”
