Teachers’ pay

Press, 18 March 1982, Page 20

Teachers’ pay

Sir,—The failure last week of the N.Z.E.I. in its pay relativity claim could well signal the end of over 100 strikefree years in the primary teaching service. This most recent failure highlights what appears to its members to be a fundamental inability of the institute to negotiate effectively at the national level, matters of importance to primary teachers. This is in direct contrast to the successes achieved by the P.P.T.A. — its post-primary counterpart. The N.Z.E.I. must'now acknowledge that the system of tribunals in this country is very much an integral part of the machinery of government. Executive pressure can be applied to such bodies, particularly when the stakes concern $3O million of the taxpayers’ money. Unfortunately, it appears from the chairman of the tribunal’s comments, that the N.Z.E.I. failed to recognise the weakness of its bargaining position, seemingly being content to submit a “meritorious case.” This is quite insufficient as going by the reported statements, the central issue of equal pay for equal experience and qualification was’ completely overlooked.—Yours, etc., H. S. EDWARD. March 14, 1982.