Education Minister Erica Stanford. Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii
The Education Minister says it's disappointing secondary teachers are striking despite the union returning to negotiations.
Teachers went on strike today after pay talks stalled over a government offer of a 1 percent rise each year for three years.
Erica Stanford said the coalition would not budge from its position the Post Primary Teachers Association (PPTA) union should return to the table.
"I've said a number of times that it's a real shame that the PPTA haven't been bargaining in good faith.
"The bargaining seats were barely warm by the time they decided to go on their strike and if you look at all the slick marketing that they had prepared and all of the venues that they had booked, it looks extraordinarily like it was premeditated and that's really disappointing."
She then confirmed secondary teachers had returned to the negotiating table but had gone ahead with the strike anyway.
"They are back at the table. So that's a great thing. They have been back at the table. So that is good to see.
"I came out and said, I think you should put off the strikes and come back to the table. They are back at the table but they didn't call off the strikes, which is disappointing given that we've only had six days of bargaining."
On the strike action, the union said the government should have made a reasonable offer.
More mediated bargaining is scheduled for Monday and Tuesday next week, a PPTA spokesperson said.
The teachers' protest in Wellington. Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii
Public Service Minister Judith Collins said she had been too busy to follow the strike action today but encouraged secondary teachers to get back to bargaining.
"I've been busy all day. I have seven portfolios, plus I'm the chair of the Privileges Committee. I haven't got time to be involved in all that detail but I can say this, people should just get back, get back the bargaining table.
Asked about her inaccurate comments about teachers' salaries last week, Collins said, "I just think get back to the bargaining table and stop acting silly."
Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour said it was unreasonable for teachers to strike today.
"We value teachers. That's why they've had 14 percent pay rises in the last three years. Most New Zealanders who are paying the taxes for it have had nothing like that.
"They've also got additional funding to help with teacher aides. There's a lot of things being done for teachers that have really tried to ease the burden. Now they have six days of negotiation, go on strike and put everybody out. I think that's a bit unreasonable."
Chris Hipkins thinks the teachers "have got a really fair point". Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii
Teachers saying we don't want to go backwards is not unreasonable - Opposition leader
Labour leader Chris Hipkins said teachers worked hard and deserved a better offer.
"I think the teachers have got a really fair point. They're being offered a real terms pay cut, so they'll be going backwards if they accept the offer that the government has made to them.
"They've also had their pay equity claim unilaterally cancelled by the government and for secondary school teachers, they've been told that they're not allowed to lodge another one."
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson said what teachers were asking for was the least they deserved.
"When you've got a government who has found billions for wealthy landlords, for tobacco companies, for fossil fuel executives; we've got what we need here to pay our teachers properly."
