Don’t blow the chance to resolve teacher dispute

12 July 2002

Don’t blow the chance to resolve teacher dispute – NZSTA

The New Zealand School Trustees Association says the option of an alternative dispute resolution process as a means to resolve the teacher pay dispute is there for the taking.

And NZSTA is urging all parties to commit to it.

President Chris France says NZSTA is heartened that an option of an alternative dispute resolution process is providing a way forward, but warns that the next few days are critical in getting the resolution process bolted down.

Acceptance of the process by secondary school teachers would allow a short-term solution to the negotiations and at the same time provide the opportunity to fully air the outstanding issues such as workload and pay.

Chris France says the only way the alternative dispute resolution will work is if both the Government and secondary teachers commit to it. This also includes halting industrial action.

“This situation has already been dragging on and it will not be resolved while we still have the threat of teacher strikes hanging over the students’ heads. This adoption of this alternative is one of the few remaining positive options left and it is vital that it is made clear that boards do not want to see this very real option jeopardised in any way.”

He says boards would be very concerned if the alternative dispute resolution was rejected in favour of more industrial action.

“Boards have had enough of the disruption to our children’s learning and the time is long overdue for the dispute to come to an end.”

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