Teachers’ pay

Press, 29 March 1982, Page 16

Teachers’ pay

Sir,—You quote Mr Wellington stating that Judge Hom “had rejected arguments by the institute that the State wage-fixing legislation would permit the tribunal to establish relativity between the two groups.” Why then did Judge Horn rule in the case last November that relativity could be established and revoke it three months later? What persuaded him to take a very

narrow interpretation of clause 10 in the Act completely ignoring 10c which states “relativity, being current remuneration received by those in benchmark positions in other occupations (whether in or outside the State Services) which have similar requirements, such as education, training or skill”? Surely this allows State servants to be compared with other State servants. Judge Horn stated in his decision that “conclusions now reached may put tribunals in a straitjacket which has not hitherto been worn.” To my mind this puts the independence of the tribunal under suspicion. — Yours, etc., J. S. LUKE. March 27, 1982.

Sir,—Mr Wellington’s attack on primary teachers through your Parliamentary reporter (March 26) displayed his concern of a moderate group, which has had enough, and is now willing to express this overtly. His irrelevant statements of typical political diversion will cut no ice because essentially the N.Z.E.I.’s case was not lost by negotiation. Primary teachers were the victims of a direct Government assault on negotiating rights when the interpretation used by the tribunal was contrary to that recognised over the previous 12 years. This situation has a much wider implication. Many State servants will not be able to establish salary relativity with other State servants who have similar education, training and skill, and who are doing the same or similar work. Over 100 sections of that service will be affected, because unless they experience a serious recruitment and retention problem they will have no rights to negotiate a salary claim. After 99 years, primary teachers willfinally take industrial action — reluctantly, but of necessity. — Yours, etc., L. R. D. SCOTT. March 26, 1982.