Teachers’ pay claim

Press, 24 February 1978, Page 8

Teachers’ pay claim

Sir, — Now that the secondary school teachers have brought themselves down to the level of other mo n e y-grabbing workers they can no longer regard their employment as a profession. Just imagine if our doctors, nurses, police, and all other public service employees carried on in this irresponsible fashion. It worries me that they have charge of my children for six hours a day and I wonder what trouble New Zealand will face next. My husband’s weekly wage for 40 hours is $81.90 net. I do not have a job and we have two children. We own our home and have no debts. May I ask what is the average salary of a secondary school teacher. ■— Yours, etc. M. L. PANKHURST. February 23, 1978.

Sir, — I note with little surprise that your editorial article does not support the P.P.T.A. one-day strike. I would like to ask whether your paper has ever supported a strike over pay, in its entire publishing history? Do you then regard workers as some sort of charity, who should take what they are given and be grateful? It is a fact of life that for most New Zealanders industrial action is more likely to bring reward than hard work. At best, the hard worker may win promotion to a more administrative position, further from the practical work he or she is good at. It is another fact that persuasion and logic can only work where both parties have sufficient common interests. And many people now feel that they have nothing whatever in common with Mr Muldoon and his Government. Your editorial was just one more plea for apathy, submission,

and the adoption of tactics that de not work. — Yours, ’’ALAN L. WILKINSON. February 23, 1978.