September 19th, 2024
NZEI Te Riu Roa, New Zealand's largest education union, has announced that area school teachers across the country have voted in favour of taking industrial action this term, including rolling strikes. The action will consist of a relief teacher work ban, a ban on meetings outside of school hours, and rolling strikes from Tuesday 9 May to Thursday 11 May, according to a media release by NZEI on Tuesday.
The area school teacher action will align with that undertaken by PPTA Te Wehengarua area school teachers. Kaareen Hotereni, an area school teacher and member of the negotiation team, said that members do not take the decision to strike lightly, but they are frustrated with the slow progress the government is making on their claims.
"Tamariki deserve teachers who have the time and resources to ensure that all students and their whānau are well supported in their school journey," Hotereni added.
This action follows primary and area school principals who began a two-month work ban from Monday 24 April, the first day of term two. NZEI Te Riu Roa President Mark Potter said that members are sending a message to the government that they need to do more to ensure teaching remains a valued profession.
Area school teachers received one offer in late 2022. Further negotiations with the Ministry are scheduled for the end of next week. If an offer that meets the needs of area school teachers is received, any industrial action agreed upon by area school teachers can be called off.