Primary teacher members of NZEI Te Riu Roa have resoundingly rejected the Government’s latest collective agreement offer.
The rejection aligns with the strong “No” votes recently delivered across the sector: primary principals, teacher aides, administrative staff, librarians, kaiārahi i te reo, therapists, science technicians, other school staff and MoE Field Staff have all rejected their respective government offers.
“The outcome reflects deep dissatisfaction among our teachers, who are demanding an offer that genuinely addresses cost-of-living pressures and upholds their professional claims,” says Liam Rutherford, NZEI Te Riu Roa primary teacher negotiation team lead.
“Teachers feel that the rejected offer is barely different from the unacceptable offer they also turned down in September,” adds Mr Rutherford.
“It entirely omits any reference to upholding Te Tiriti in education – which is one of our core claims.
“The absence of this commitment, coupled with the substandard pay offer, tells teachers they are neither financially valued nor supported in their cultural obligations to learners. The sector is standing together for a fair settlement.”
Mr Rutherford also criticised the timing, saying the Government’s decision to table the offer as late as 11 December – when some schools had already closed for the year – felt to many teachers like a deliberate tactic to disrupt their vote.
“Our primary teachers deserve a collective agreement that reflects their essential contribution to our tamariki and the future of our public education system.”