Large class sizes 'still not being addressed' in latest teacher pay offer - NZEI

November 16, 2018

NZEI President Lynda Stuart said there were issues still not addressed in the latest offer, as teachers finish their last day of striking.

The Government's latest pay offer to primary teachers hangs in the balance as the week of rolling strikes come to an end today. 

The primary teachers' union NZEI and secondary union PPTA are meeting today to discuss the possibility of joint campaigning next year, and whether teachers should take or reject the latest offer. 

NZEI President Lynda Stuart told TVNZ1's Breakfast meetings of teachers during the country-wide rolling strikes had been well attended, and was a good opportunity for teachers to "drill down" on the latest pay offer.

"What our teachers and principals are saying... has been that they are really wanting to see something around time and class size, work load."

The strikes will roll across the country this week as almost 30,000 walk off the job.

"That issue is still not being addressed and they're really concerned about that. They absolutely acknowledge the steps the Government have taken around addressing some of the issues but that is something that they're still seeing as lacking.

She said "it matters when a child and a teacher have that individual one-on-one time". 

"It's absolutely imperative that we look at those class sizes and we look at actually enabling our teachers to also have that time they need to spend with individual children. 

Teachers today are meeting in Wellington, Kāpiti, Porirua and Wairarapa to discuss the latest offer. 

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Earlier this week, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said that she hoped teachers would take the deal. 

"Teachers haven't had a chance yet to vote on the last offer that was made before the strike action was taken," she said.

"It's not just about pay. This is all we've got, we've pushed ourselves as far as we can go. We have tried to listen to what the teachers have asked of us in this deal."

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