No progress in teachers talks

Press, 13 April 1989, Page 7

No progress in teachers talks

PA Wellington Rolling strikes by secondary school teachers moved closer yesterday after lack of progress in award talks. The Post Primary Teachers’ Association president, Ms Ruth Chapman, said last evening that the State Services Commission had been asked to reconsider its position before talks resumed today. Ms Chapman said that over four days of talks since strike action was suspended the commission had failed to give the PPTA’s proposals proper consideration. She said the commission continued to revert to its original proposals of contracts for senior teachers and principals and the introduction of pay flexibility (merit pay). The suspended rolling strikes could be reactivated if progress was not made today, Ms Chapman said. The commission’s education industrial relations director, Mr Gerald Minnee, said repeated P.P.T.A. approaches to the news media to put pressure on the" commission was not helping the negotiations. H 5 would not comment further till the talks had been completed.