Principals’ bargaining “painfully slow”

Principals’ bargaining “painfully slow”

Secondary principal representatives have returned from two days of bargaining their collective agreement frustrated and disappointed.

The joint bargaining team of the New Zealand Secondary Principals’ Council of PPTA (NZSPC) and the Secondary Principals Association of New Zealand (SPANZ) lodged their claims a week ago but progress has been “painfully slow.”

Leaders of both groups said it was “immensely disappointing” that an innovative and educationally driven claim was not received with enthusiasm, particularly since it was firmly based on the ministry’s own Kiwi Leadership plans and initiatives.

As professional leaders and chief executives of significant educational organisations, secondary principals have claimed an average salary increase of 4.8% and a new career structure that would set up remuneration goals on reaching certain professional outcomes over the span of 10 years.

SPANZ president Patrick Walsh said the ministry’s unenthusiastic response was “astonishing” given the minister’s professed desire for greater degrees of professionalism, accountability and improved education outcomes.

“Our claim is both financially prudent and meets stated government goals,” he said.

NZSPC chair Julia Davidson said the intention of the claim was to retain experienced, highly skilled, professional leaders of learning in New Zealand and not lose them overseas.

Walsh said nothing of any substance, nor any salary offer, was placed on the table by the ministry.

“Instead they have proposed to reduce the number of sabbaticals and reinforce entrenchment with primary school principals,” he said.

Davidson said both groups were deeply committed to the claim but were not interested in long protracted days at the table where nothing is progressed.

“We will continue to pursue it with vigour – in the fond hope that our next meeting will be more productive.

ENDS

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