Ministry of Education & NZEI urgently seek facilitated bargaining

<h2>Secretary for Education&comma; Iona Holsted has revealed that facilitated bargaining is being sought for primary principals and primary teachers’ pay talks&period; <&sol;h2>&NewLine;<blockquote>&NewLine;<p>&&num;8220&semi;Following the results of the NZEI ballot&comma; the Ministry of Education and the NZEI will urgently seek facilitated bargaining under the Employment Relations Act&period; This process will facilitate reaching settlements for primary principals and primary teachers&period;&&num;8221&semi;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<&sol;blockquote>&NewLine;<p>Holsted said&colon; &&num;8220&semi;If the Employment Relations Authority agrees to provide facilitation&comma; the Authority member will decide on the process&period;&&num;8221&semi;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>At the end of the facilitation process&comma; the Employment Relations Authority can make recommendations about the process the parties should use to reach agreement&comma; and the terms and conditions of the collective agreement&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<blockquote>&NewLine;<p>&&num;8220&semi;The parties do not have to follow the Authority’s recommendations&comma; but they must consider them in good faith&comma; and cannot reject the recommendations without first considering them&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<&sol;blockquote>&NewLine;<p>It is important to note that during facilitation&comma; bargaining continues and employees are not prevented from using strikes&period;&&num;8221&semi;<&sol;p>&NewLine;