NZEI Te Riu Roa Area school teachers to join rolling strike action

Area school teachers across the country have voted in favour of taking industrial action this term, including rolling strikes, says NZEI Te Riu Roa, New Zealand’s largest education union.

Action will include a relief teacher work ban, a ban on meetings outside of school hours, and rolling strikes from Tuesday 9 May to Thursday 11 May.

NZEI Te Riu Roa area school teacher action will align with that undertaken by PPTA Te Wehengarua area school teachers.

“Members do not take the decision to strike lightly but we are frustrated that the Government is moving so slowly on our claims,” says area school teacher and member of the negotiation team, Kaareen Hotereni.

"Tamariki deserve teachers who have the time and resources to ensure that all students and their whānau are well supported in their school journey.”

This action closely follows primary and area school principals who began a two-month work ban from Monday 24 April, the first day of term two.

NZEI Te Riu Roa President, Mark Potter said that members are sending a message to the government that they need to do more to ensure teaching remains a valued profession.

Area school teachers received one offer in late 2022. Further negotiations with the Ministry take place at the end of next week. If an offer is received that meets the needs of area school teachers, any industrial action agreed by area school teachers can be called off.

ENDS

Notes:

Area school teacher industrial action includes three actions: a relief teacher work ban, a ban on meetings outside of school hours, and rolling strikes. See details below.

Relief ban during non-contact time 

NZEI Te Riu Roa members will refuse to work more than their maximum timetabled classroom teaching time as calculated under the terms and conditions of the ASTCA. So, members will not be available to take over other classes, supervise or instruct groups of students. The relief ban does not prevent the hiring of relief teachers or engaging a part-time teacher to work additional hours. It is strictly a work-to-rule measure designed to expose the need for additional staffing in area schools. The ban will commence on 8 May 2023 at 7am and end on 30 June 2023 at 7pm. 

Ban on meetings outside of school hours 

NZEI Te Riu Roa members will not attend any staff meetings or meetings with parents or third parties outside of the hours of 8.30am - 4.30pm. Extra-curricular activities like sporting events or kapa haka festivals will be unaffected by this ban and member attendance at school camps, school trips and noho marae are also excluded. The meetings ban will also commence on 8 May 2023 at 7am and end on 30 June 2023 at 7pm. 

Rolling strikes 

NZEI Te Riu Roa members will take part in three days of rolling strikes across the motu, each for a full day in length, and alongside PPTA colleagues taking industrial action these days.

Tuesday 9 May 2023 for NZEI Te Riu Roa area school teacher members at South Island area schools. 

Wednesday 10 May 2023 for NZEI Te Riu Roa area school teacher members at area schools in the Lower North Island regions including Wellington, Manawatū-Whanganui, Hawkes Bay  and Taranaki 

Thursday 11 May 2023 for NZEI Te Riu Roa area school teacher members in the Upper North Island regions including Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Gisborne