Te Kura o Tititea Mount Aspiring College (MAC) principal Nicola Jacobsen says ongoing industrial action has started “to wear thin” for the school community.

The Post Primary Teachers Association (PPTA) and the Ministry of Education have been working for almost nine months without success to negotiate the Secondary Teachers Collective Agreement. 

South Island secondary school teachers went on strike on Tuesday May 9, followed by North Island teachers later that week. 

A pay offer was made by the Ministry of Education on Monday May 8, but it was rejected by the PPTA which said teachers need a pay increase that matches the cost of living.

A mediator is now working with each group to come to a resolution. 

Nicola said at this stage she did not know if there are further national and regional strikes planned.

“At present, no further actions are planned for, however, the PPTA and the Ministry of Education do not seem to be any closer to reaching an agreement.”

Nicola said MAC has been affected by a range of industrial actions so far this year: two national strike days, one regional strike day, rostering home of year levels, and ‘work to rule’ (where union members would essentially refuse to cover for absent colleagues).

“Rostering home of year levels, and work to rule, are the two current industrial actions as part of the national action,” she said.

The situation is “tough on everyone”, Nicola told the Wānaka App.

“...teachers have not had an employment agreement in place - the expired agreement stands, but the uncertainty created through the negotiation and mediation processes is difficult. 

“Teachers want to be teaching students, and many personally feel conflicted about balancing the needs of students with the needs of the teaching profession.”

She said teachers need a more attractive contract in place in order to make teaching more viable for university graduates, and those wanting to transfer their skills from a current career into teaching. 

“Our current teaching professionals need to feel that their profession is a viable one, and that work conditions will support them to support students in their learning. 

“Students are feeling the pressure of missing out on time at school - our senior students are certainly experiencing yet another year of more stress and disruption. 

“Our parent community has been very supportive of the work that teachers do, however, the demands of rostering home and continued disruption is starting to wear thin.”

PHOTO: Supplied