Teachers now await Cabinet bill moves

Press, 18 August 1980, Page 6

Teachers now await Cabinet bill moves

PA Wellington , The Cabinet is expected to consider a proposal today which would mean scrapping contentious clauses in the State Services Conditions of Employment Bill. Teachers have threatened industrial action if two clauses of the bill, ending their rights to negotiate-class-con-tact hours, become law. The Government put forward the bill after the Association of Teachers in Technical Institutes filed : a ; claim with the Government Services Tribunal for reduced class-contact hours. The Minister of Education (Mr Wellington) and the association’s president (Mr J. P. Gavigan)' met several times last week to : consider a compromise.

Though both have declined to discuss it publicly, it is believed the Government win drop the clauses in return-for the association’s withdrawing its arbitration claim. : ?, The bill has been before the Parliamentary select committee and can now be reported back to the House when ever the Government wishes. w Mr Wellington cut short an overseas tour ,10 days ago so that he could- take charge of the dispute, brought to a head when post-primary teachers voted to give their association’s executive _ the power to call strikes if the bill goes through. • . ■ Early last week Mr Wellington was adamant the bill would be passed unchanged, - but several Government; backbench members of Par-.

Ifanient' threatened to-, vote against.it. ••• / / Mr Wellington and Mr Gavigan ended their meeting at the Beehive last Friday evening with statements’.that the matter would be.'raised in the Cabinet today..X : ’ Mr. Gavigan had further discussions with his association’s executive on Saturday and is believed to have telephoned Mr Wellington yti Auckland afterwards.//;,/; An A.T.T.I. agreement to withdraw its claim, , due to come before the tribunal oh Wednesday, would put the association back at square 6ne in its long-term fight for improved working hours. ? ' Because of this, there has been speculation that the compromise might'include a package deal to increase st'af-. fing at technical institutes.