Categories: News

Strikes paused for primary teachers

A planned strike has been called off by NZEI Te Riu Roa primary school teachers as negotiations for a collective agreement continue.

<h2><span data-contrast&equals;"auto">Primary teachers from the NZEI Te Riu Roa education union have called off their planned strike action on Wednesday 31 May&period; <&sol;span><span data-ccp-props&equals;"&lbrace;&quot&semi;201341983&quot&semi;&colon;0&comma;&quot&semi;335559739&quot&semi;&colon;160&comma;&quot&semi;335559740&quot&semi;&colon;259&rcub;"> <&sol;span><&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p><span data-contrast&equals;"auto">The news follows last week’s announcement that industrial action would be paused as negotiations continued with the Ministry of Education for a new collective agreement&period; <&sol;span><span data-ccp-props&equals;"&lbrace;&quot&semi;201341983&quot&semi;&colon;0&comma;&quot&semi;335559739&quot&semi;&colon;160&comma;&quot&semi;335559740&quot&semi;&colon;259&rcub;"> <&sol;span><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><span data-contrast&equals;"auto">Education Minister Jan Tinetti met with both NZEI Te Riu Roa and PPTA Te Wehengarua representatives on Friday 19 May&comma; which was described in a press release as &OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;constructive”&period; Under this agreement&comma; all strike notices were suspended until Tuesday 30 May&period; <&sol;span><span data-ccp-props&equals;"&lbrace;&quot&semi;201341983&quot&semi;&colon;0&comma;&quot&semi;335559739&quot&semi;&colon;160&comma;&quot&semi;335559740&quot&semi;&colon;259&rcub;"> <&sol;span><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><span data-contrast&equals;"auto">It’s now been announced that Minister of Finance Grant Robertson will meet with union representatives on Tuesday to discuss a settlement&period; The terms of this agreement will be confirmed later that day and taken to teachers on Wednesday&period; <&sol;span><span data-ccp-props&equals;"&lbrace;&quot&semi;201341983&quot&semi;&colon;0&comma;&quot&semi;335559739&quot&semi;&colon;160&comma;&quot&semi;335559740&quot&semi;&colon;259&rcub;"> <&sol;span><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><span data-contrast&equals;"auto">Although strike action will not continue&comma; NZEI Te Riu Roa has noted that schools may close on Wednesday afternoon for paid union meetings&period; <&sol;span><span data-ccp-props&equals;"&lbrace;&quot&semi;201341983&quot&semi;&colon;0&comma;&quot&semi;335559739&quot&semi;&colon;160&comma;&quot&semi;335559740&quot&semi;&colon;259&rcub;"> <&sol;span><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><span data-contrast&equals;"auto">If the new proposal is again rejected&comma; union members will vote on whether to continue with industrial action&comma; though any further strikes won’t take place until mid-June&period; <&sol;span><span data-ccp-props&equals;"&lbrace;&quot&semi;201341983&quot&semi;&colon;0&comma;&quot&semi;335559739&quot&semi;&colon;160&comma;&quot&semi;335559740&quot&semi;&colon;259&rcub;"> <&sol;span><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><strong>Update&colon;<&sol;strong> it&&num;8217&semi;s now been announced that most <a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;stuff&period;co&period;nz&sol;national&sol;education&sol;300891704&sol;parents-left-scrambling-for-childcare-after-schools-close-for-union-meeting" target&equals;"&lowbar;blank" rel&equals;"noopener">primary schools will close on the afternoon of Wednesday 31 May<&sol;a> for paid union meetings&period; Usually NZEI Te Riu Roa must give two weeks notice for union meetings but due to the strike having been planned for that day&comma; the usual rule has been waived&period; <&sol;p>&NewLine;

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Naomii Seah

Naomii Seah is a writer and journalist from Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand. She has been covering education in New Zealand since 2022.

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