Institute teachers ‘relatively happy’

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32779, 2 December 1971, Page 16

Institute teachers ‘relatively happy ’

The Christchurch branch of the Association of Teachers in Technical Institutes was now relatively happy, even though it had rejected the 3 per cent wage increase accepted by its national executive on Tuesday, the chairman of the branch (Mr J. P. Gavigan) said yesterday.

The rejection by the Christchurch branch, believed to have been the only branch to have voted against the Government offer, was not a vote of no confidence in the national executive, and the branch did not intend to “go it alone,” Mr Gavigan said. It was hoped that a new claim, based on relativity, could be lodged immediately. Since the technical institute teachers first lodged their claim, 17 months ago, postprimary teachers had been awarded a 17 per cent increase in salary, said Mr Gavigan. “Relativity with the secondary service has now cf course been. lost,” he said. “Even if our original claim

for a 10 per cent increase had been met, relativity would not have been restored.” “GOVT MOUTHPIECE”

The association would bave been better to have worked through the Government Service Tribunal—a judicial body under a judge of the Supreme Court—than the Education Service Committee. which was a "mouthpiece of the Government," he said. “The Government had first offered us a 1 per cent increase. After this was rejected, the matter was referred back to the Cabinet and then we were told ‘3 per cent, or nothing’.’’ Mr Gavigan said the basis of the problem was that overtime for evening-school teaching was included in the salary scales. When this was accepted by the association in 1965 there appeared to be favourable conditions surrounding such an acceptance. However, the inclusion of overtime now appeared detrimental towards the association’s case.

“We will 'have to watch carefully developments in the next few months. The Remuneration Authority is still in existence, and even our 3 per cent increase will have to go before it,” said Mr Gavigan.