Stalled Teacher Pay Talks To Resume

Stalled Teacher Pay Talks To Resume

Talks between primary teachers and the government over a stalled pay claim will resume today. (Wednesday 12 December).

NZEI Te Riu Roa, which represents 27,000 primary teachers, has been in negotiations with the Ministry of Education over their collective agreement since August.

Negotiations were adjourned in October after progress stalled over the lack of units given to primary schools to financially recognise teachers who are taking on extra leadership responsibilities.

The Ministry’s initial offer of 2,000 extra units to be distributed amongst the country’s 2,049 primary schools would have resulted in many schools receiving no extra units at all.

At a recent series of worksite meetings around the country, 80 percent of teachers represented rejected that offer.

However on the basis that the Ministry is prepared to put a revised offer on the table, NZEI’s National President Irene Cooper has determined that NZEI should return to negotiations to attempt to conclude a satisfactory settlement.

She says “the lack of units has created an inability to resource the middle and senior leadership for the range of responsibilities that primary leaders have to now undertake. This needs to be put right and we’re pleased that bargaining will continue with fresh impetus.”

Talks are set down for today and Thursday.

ENDS

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