More promised

Press, 24 February 1978, Page 1

More promised

The Canterbury teachers made it clear yesterday that they were prepared to go further in their protests — including threats of another strike. The 80 delegates of the Canterbury region of the P.P.T.A. were joined by more than 300 other teachers at a meeting yesterday. After overturning a ruling that only delegates have voting rights, the meeting passed more than 20 resolutions, to be sent by way of recommendation to branches, and to the association’s national executive for consideration. It is reported from Wellington that the striking teachers will meet the Minister of Education (Mr Gandar) today in an attempt to resume the pay negotiations which led to action. However, the leader of the P.P.T.A. (Mr Peter Andrews) said that he was not optimistic about the outcome of the meeting. “My whole concern is to maintain communication and to get movement in the pay negotiations again,” he said. The resolutions passed in open meeting at Christ-

church yesterday were:— (1) That schools do not involve themselves in the administration of entry for School Certificate and Sixth Form Certificate; (2) That failing some positive negotiation on the part of Government a further strike be called at . some politically opportune time; (3) That failing satisfactory negotiations on the salary claim, extracurricular activities outside normal classroom teaching commitments cease. (A note appended to the recommendation gave examples such as attendance at parent-teacher association meetings, and parents’ evenings, working bees, dance or social supervision, reports, and Saturday work.) (4) That the executive gives urgent consideration to instructing members to have nothing to do with the setting, moderating or marking of School Certificate, with the exception of internal assessment. The president of the Canterbury’ region (Mr W. M. Cook) said that the meeting would also send to branches and to the national executive 20 other protest recommendations

suggested by the meeting in committee. The meeting, which started at 10 a.m. and ended about 1 p.m., also gave its full support to its executive in any action it considered necessary in support of the wage claims. Mr Cook said he was “quite astounded” at the teachers’ unanimity. Most recommendations were passed unanimously or with only a few dissensions. mainly on technical grounds. “They were fully supportive of everything,” he said. Mr Andrews said in Wellington that indications from P.P.T.A. branches, particularly in Christchurch and the Bay of Plenty, showed that most members were prepared for further action. A work-to-rule and rolling strikes had been mentioned, he said. Mr Gandar said in a brief statement yesterday that Mr Andrew’s had asked for a meeting and he had indicated that he would be prepared to meet the association at 10 a.m. The executive of the Combined State Service Organisations has expressed full support for the stoppage by the teachers.