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Christchurch teachers looking for more money

Author
Newstalk ZB Staff,
Publish Date
Tue, 29 May 2018, 5:15AM
The PPTA says that Christchurch is still feeling the effects of the earthquake. (Photo / Getty)
The PPTA says that Christchurch is still feeling the effects of the earthquake. (Photo / Getty)

Christchurch teachers looking for more money

Author
Newstalk ZB Staff,
Publish Date
Tue, 29 May 2018, 5:15AM

The Post Primary Teachers Association will hold their largest of 37 meetings across the country in Christchurch today ahead of collective negotiations with the government.

More than 1200 teachers in Canterbury are expected in Wigram this morning to vote on whether to endorse better pay, more manageable workloads and a solution to the teacher shortage.

The PPTA is calling for up to a 15 percent pay increase, largely due to issues around teacher supply.

It comes as nurses are bidding to get on a similar pay level to teachers.

PPTA's Canterbury chair Bernie Lee says the region needs a boost more than most as they're still feeling the ripple effect of the earthquakes.

She says students here are going through various issues with their learning as a result of the earthquakes , which makes it even more difficult for teachers, who are calling on the government to dig deep in their pockets to sort what they describe as a myriad of workload issues.

Lee says they're not in a good spot at the moment and students are suffering as a result.

"Sadly, some of our principals are having to shut down courses because we don't have the specialist classroom teachers in front of our students and we can't be doing that - we've got to be giving them the best education they can deserve."

Lee also hit back at those who believe teachers are well remunerated - and have the luxury of school holidays.

"Those people that say things like 'oh you've got holidays coming up...well actually I'd really like to see some of these people in front of our students there are a myriad of things we have to deal with from the classroom," she said.

The current collective agreement for secondary schools expires in October.

 

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