September 2007

KEY POINTS:

• The PPTA has given notice of a one day national strike on Wednesday 12 September. Only secondary teachers who are members of the PPTA will be on strike.
• All NZEI members employed in secondary schools should report for work on the day of the strike, Wednesday 12 September.
• NZEI members are requested not to do any work that would normally be done by a striking teacher.
• The employer needs to find work for all non striking staff.
• Show your support for your colleagues on strike.
• If an NZEI Support Staff Paid Union Meeting occurs on the day of the strike, you should attend the NZEI Paid Union Meeting. You will be paid if you usually work these hours and are at work prior to the meeting and return to work after the meeting.
  

ACTION:

Worksite representatives:

• Please copy and distribute this newsletter to all NZEI members in secondary schools
  

ENQUIRIES:

For further enquiries contact your local NZEI Te Riu Roa field staff officer, NZEI regional office, or NZEI national office.

 

Dear members

The secondary teachers union, the PPTA, has given notice of a one day national strike on Wednesday 12 September. Only secondary teachers who are members of the PPTA will be on strike

Secondary teachers are claiming smaller class sizes, improved pay for teachers with additional responsibilities, equitable non-teaching time for part-timers and a pay adjustment to keep pace with other workers.

Please show your support for your colleagues on strike. You can do this by not doing any work that would normally be done by a striking teacher. This could include such things as supervising groups of students and the administrative tasks of teachers on strike.

If you are asked to perform work that would normally be done by a striking worker you have the legal right to refuse.

When one union is on strike the employer needs to find work for all non striking staff. However, under Sector 88 of the Employment Relations Act when no work is available the employer is allowed to suspend staff without pay. It is extremely unlikely that any employer could justify any such suspensions based on a one day strike as there is always plenty of work around schools. If you are suspended, you should let your NZEI regional office know immediately. Any decision by schools to suspend non striking workers will be challenged by NZEI.

If an NZEI Support Staff Paid Union Meeting occurs on the day of the strike, please ensure that you still attend the NZEI Paid Union Meeting. Your school will still expect you to be at school before and after the Paid Union Meeting if you usually work these hours.

Kevin Burrows
Executive Officer

For office use:

NZEI Negotiations SSCA 2007/06
Page 2 of 2
To: NZEI Members in Secondary Schools
Files: 325.75