Christchurch primary teachers next in line today as rolling nationwide strike continues

November 14, 2018

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A week of rolling one-day strikes by primary school teachers nationwide continues today with teachers in the Christchurch area abandoning classrooms.

Yesterday, North Island primary schools outside the big cities closed their doors on day two of the rolling strikes, which principals are also joining.

Today's stoppage covers wider Christchurch, including Ellesmere, Ashley, Mid-Canterbury, Malvern and Hurunui.

A $690 million offer is on the table from the Ministry of Education, and includes $11,000 wage rises for some by 2020.

Unions say there has been significant movement in both salaries and support for children with learning needs, but the offer has no provisions in place to reduce workloads or class sizes.

The Government says it will continue to work with teachers. 

"It is a good offer. The Government's absolutely confident that what we are putting forward to teachers is a significant step towards addressing the issues they've raised," Education Minister Chris Hipkins said yesterday. 

Meanwhile, a mega-strike could be on the cards for the education sector as primary and secondary teachers float the idea of combined strike action.

The Post Primary Teachers Association (PPTA) is considering if it will back the NZ Educational Institute's (NZEI) strike action, raising the possibility that if the issue isn't settled. all school teachers could go out.

Striking Christchurch area teachers will meet at Horncastle Arena in Addington this morning to consider the latest offer, before marching to Riccarton.

Auckland primary teachers went out on Monday, and tomorrow it's the turn of South Island teachers outside the Christchurch region, before Wellington teachers strike on Friday.

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