Media Statement
Tuesday, 11 August 2009

Hon Peter Dunne
MP for Ohariu
Leader of UnitedFuture

Dunne supports school support staff

UnitedFuture leader and Ohariu MP Peter Dunne has expressed his full support for school support staff in their current pay negotiations.

Mr Dunne met with a delegation of school support staff and New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) members at his Johnsonville electorate office recently, where he was presented with over 800 individual pledges of support for the school support staff in their claim.

School support staff are seeking a 1.1% salary increase, and are asking that this be provided from within the 3.1% increase in schools’ operations grants for this year.

“These people are the backbone of our primary school system and deserve a better deal – they are essential to the effective running of many of our schools,” he said.

Earlier this year Mr Dunne took up the school support staff’s concerns when there were delays in getting their pay talks underway, and now the talks have stalled he says he will be happy to push their case again.

ENDS

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