P.P.T.A. rejects call for recruit-boycott

Press, 21 April 1986, Page 5

P.P.T.A. rejects call for recruit-boycott

The Post-Primary Teachers’ Association will not boycott the teacher trainee recruitment campaign this year, as requested by Christchurch trainees last week.

The association’s president, Mr Peter Allen, said the executive discussed the request during the week-end but rejected it.

"Our analysis of it was that the Government would proceed with the recruitment campaign whether we were involved in it or not,” Mr Allen said.

He did not agree with the principal of Christchurch Teachers’ College, Mr lan Stewart, who last week said that trainee selection boards could not function if teachers’ service organisations boycotted them. The P.P.T.A. wanted to ensure that prospective trainees knew what condi-

tions of service lay ahead of them, Mr Allen said. It also wanted to make sure the trainees selected were of as high a quality as possible. It could not do this if it boycotted the recruitment campaign. “But if no progress is made towards the reinstatement of trainee salaries next year, we would review our position," Mr Allen said. The decision was not related to the timing of the association’s salary hearing before the Government Service Tribunal, beginning today, he said.

The association did agree to every other request the trainees made. Executive members said they were particularly worried about the use of trainees as relieving teachers when they were on section at schools.

"That is illegal, and we will move to make sure

that trainees are not placed in that position,” Mr Allen said. The executive also decided to offer the trainees financial support, if required, for a publicity campaign.

The president of the Christchurch Teacher Trainees’ Association, Mr lan Gilmour, said he could understand why the P.P.T.A. had rejected the request, as it had not had a chance to discuss it with the trainees. He said he also understood the appeal a midyear recruitment campaign would have to the P.P.T.A.

“It may seem to lighten the load of teachers, but it is still not a problem solver,” he said. Mr Gilmour said that mid-year recruitment would do nothing to solve the question of salaries and recognition as State employees for trainees.