1 Oct 2018

Teachers to vote on strike when new school term starts

8:21 pm on 1 October 2018

Primary school teachers and principals will vote in two weeks on whether to hold a week of rolling one-day strikes in November.

Families and children were out in force on Queen Street to support teachers on strike.

Teachers around the country marched to push for a better deal in August. Photo: RNZ / Dan Cook

Teachers and principals rejected the Education Ministry's latest pay offer last week, saying it failed to provide a significant increase and did not deal with their workload.

The NZ Education Institute (NZEI) union said its members were consulted in schools and at this week's annual conference over options for industrial action.

NZEI president Lynda Stuart said the strongest support was for a national week of strike action.

NZEI lead negotiator Liam Rutherford said under a rolling strike, the country would be divided into five regions with each region striking for one day.

"There was a feeling that that would be a good way to keep this issue in the forefront of parents and politicians' eyes, while ensuring that teachers and princiapls were only having to spend one day out of their school."

Teachers will vote in the first week of next term, which begins on 15 October.

Get the RNZ app

for ad-free news and current affairs