May 10, 2023
Teachers strike as offer falls short
The Māori vice president of the Post Primary Teachers Association, says rolling strike actions could be called off immediately – if the Education Ministry stopped playing games.
Strike action began in the South Island yesterday.
Weather permitting, teachers in the lower North Island will stop work today, and those in the upper North Island tomorrow – with 20-thousand teachers involved.
Te Aomihia Taua-Glassie says a late pay offer from the Education Ministry doesn’t cover the increased cost of living.
The ministry has also taken back offers of non-contact time for part-time kaiako,and extra pastoral care for teacher health and well-being.
“Of course, at any time we can pull off the strikes if the ministry comes to the table and keeps those additional paenga that we asked for… non-contact, pastoral staffing.. then yes, we have the power to stop the strikes,” she says.
Ms Taua-Glassie says the fight is especially important for current and future Māori teachers – where there is a desperate shortage across the whole country.