Judith Collins’ open letter to New Zealanders:
To the patients, students and families affected by this week’s planned strike,
The government regrets the impact on you, your children and your families that is expected on Thursday because of a strike planned by a number of unions.
We regret even more that the strike appears to be politically motivated by the unions.
What else could possibly explain that in early October, when we were trying to negotiate with the secondary teachers’ union, the number one item on their agenda for a meeting with Education Minister Erica Stanford was Palestine.
Palestine. Not terms and conditions. Not student achievement. Not the new curriculum. Palestine. That’s not what students or parents should expect.
So, to all the parents of senior students – most who have already endured ongoing interruptions throughout their schooling and who are now missing two crucial days of classes less than two weeks out from NCEA exams – I urge you to ask your children’s teachers to question their union’s priorities. [...]
The Government has acted in good faith, and we have met unions’ demands for pay increases in line with inflation. Our request that teacher-only days and professional development be undertaken in school holidays to reduce disruption to students and families was refused. [...]
**The latest offer to primary teachers means 66 per cent will be paid a base salary of at least $100,000 within 12 months of ratification – up from 40 per cent currently.
**The latest offer to secondary teachers means 76 per cent will be paid a base salary of at least $100,000 from 29 October 2025 – up from 60 per cent currently.
**The latest offers come on top of the $53 million the government is spending to pay teachers’ registration and levies, of up to $550 per teacher.
**Teachers will continue to enjoy very generous annual leave provisions.
Chris Lynch Media
