Teachers vote against stop-work

Press, 1 April 1981, Page 6

Teachers vote against stop-work

Christchurch primary and intermediate school pupils will not have to be sent home while the teachers hold their mass meeting at Cowles Stadium on April 8. The meeting is _• one of a series of regional gatherings throughout New Zealand, called to discuss the implications of the primary division’s failure to gain, pay relativity with secondary teachers. The national executive of the Educational Institute has collated the opinions of its members, given in a national poll, and has decided that all meetings will be held outside school hours. Christchurch teachers will have their meeting, at 4 p.fn. In the poll, N.Z.E.I. 'members were asked whether they preferred to “stop work” in school hours, hold their meeting outside school hours, or take no action at all. A 93 per cent response came out firmly in favour of some action.

The president of the Canterbury branch of the in-:

stitute (Mr A. G. Teale) said that 7000 had favoured meeting outside school hours, a little over 6000 during school hours. Slightly more than 1000 teachers •wanted to take no action.

The Christchurch meeting will be addressed by a member of the national executive and-headmaster of Ranfurly School (Mr Jack: Rutherford). “He will put some ginger into this branch.” Mr Teale said.

Motions on the pay relativity question will be put to the meeting. If any future industrial action is to be taken,_ it must be decided locally and again forwarded to the national executive, which will combine ■ the results of all regional meetings. A new salary claim will now be put before the Education Services Committee on May 10. The mood of the teachers might depend on the advice given by that committee. The annual meeting of the national executive will be held from May 10 to May 15.