Primary school teachers and principals have overwhelmingly voted in favour of national rolling strikes in the week starting November 12.
The rolling strikes follow a nationwide strike on August 15, and members' rejection of a second offer by the Ministry of Education in late September.
NZEI Principals' lead negotiator Louise Green said the unprecedented level of industrial action by primary teachers and principals showed the severity of the crisis in our schools.
"We're at crisis point for recruiting and retaining teachers in this country. I've had principal colleagues in tears with the stress of trying to ensure a teacher in every classroom. Meanwhile the huge workload and lack of resources for children with additional learning needs is driving teachers out of the profession," she said.
The rolling strike dates include the wider Auckland region on Monday, November 12.
For the North Island except Auckland and Wellington it is scheduled for Tuesday, November 13.
In the wider Christchurch region it will take place on Wednesday, November 14. That includes Ellesmere, Ashley, Mid-Canterbury, Malvern, Hurunui and Aronui Tomua Waitaha.
In the rest of the South Island, it will take place Thursday, November 15.
And in the wider Wellington region, the strike will be on Friday, November 16.
Teachers and principals are asking for smaller classes and more resources and staffing to adequately support children with additional learning needs.
They say they also want a significant increase in teachers’ salaries so they are properly valued, and the country can recruit and retain teachers. They want 16 per cent over two years. The latest offer was 3 per cent a year over three years.
“Our students deserve better, and this Government can do better - their $5.5 billion surplus confirms it.
Teachers' lead negotiator Liam Rutherford said teachers and principals did not want to inconvenience their students and school communities - or to lose a day's pay.
"However, we all know what is at stake, and the importance of standing our ground on fixing the crisis in teacher recruitment and retention. Our students deserve better, and this Government can do better - their $5.5 billion surplus confirms it," he said.
Meanwhile, NZEI President Lynda Stuart says while strikes will go ahead “we have agreed to continue to try to seek a resolution".
To that end, she said that NZEI and the Secretary for Education have committed themselves fully to seeking an agreed settlement before November, when the strikes are due to commence.
“Tomorrow, both parties will jointly refer the collective bargaining to the Employment Relations Authority for urgent facilitation.”
Facilitation is a statutory process under which an Authority member assists the bargaining parties.
Secretary for Education Iona Holsted confirmed that following the results of the NZEI ballot, the Ministry of Education and the NZEI will urgently seek facilitated bargaining under the Employment Relations Act.
This process will facilitate reaching settlements for primary principals and primary teachers, Ms Holsted said.
If the Employment Relations Authority agrees to provide facilitation, the authority member will decide on the process.
At the end of the facilitation process, the Employment Relations Authority can make recommendations about the process the parties should use to reach agreement, and the terms and conditions of the collective agreement.
The parties do not have to follow the authority’s recommendations, but they must consider them in good faith, and cannot reject the recommendations without first considering them.
During facilitation, bargaining continues and employees are not prevented from using strikes.
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