Mallard Given Deadline At Last By PPTA

Sunday 17 November 2002

Mallard Given Deadline At Last By PPTA

“PPTA has taken a step in the right direction by giving the Minister of Education a deadline of this Thursday 21st November to recall the arbitration panel,” Martin Cooney, spokesperson for the September 20 group said today. “PPTA’s announcement of a three pronged ‘full scale fight’ against the Government shows the Association has responded to the concerns expressed in the last week by degree equivalent teachers.”

“If the Government does not call the panel back by Thursday then the PPTA says Plan A will start – legal action over good faith bargaining breaches. This is to be followed by Plan B - industrial action. Lobbying of politicians is the third aspect. ”

“While pleased that pressure by schools like Pukekohe High and others has finally brought about action, degree equivalent teachers feel the Union has hit the panic button about two months too late. The sort of action outlined after the weekend PPTA Executive meeting should have been in place well before the horse actually bolted.,” said Mr Cooney.

“Our group will now primarily focus on trying to ensure there are no delays in the legal process, assuming it proceeds,” said Mr Cooney. “Plans to promote a new union which included degree equivalents have therefore been put on hold for three weeks. We expect to be contacted by a high ranking PPTA officer during the week to see if the conditions set last week have been met. A final decision will be made following the receipt of that information.”

ENDS

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