Attack on teachers is an attack on all working New Zealanders.

TEU Media Release

The National-led Coalition-Government’s decision to offer some primary teachers individual employment agreements is a serious issue for all working people in Aotearoa, not just primary teachers, says Amy Ross, Te Pou Ahurei, National Secretary of Te Hautū Kahurangi | Tertiary Education Union (TEU).

“This is a tactic to undermine collective bargaining and working people organising for fair recognition of their work. We have clear evidence with the gutting of pay equity legislation and changes to the Employment Relations Act as well as the proposed changes to Health and Safety legislation – this National-led Coalition Government does not support working New Zealanders.”

Ms Ross says that TEU members stand united in solidarity with their primary teacher colleagues.

“Breaking good faith in bargaining by offering individual agreements to teachers who aren’t a member of a union ahead of the collective agreement settlement undermines people’s ability to negotiate collectively.

“This is not just an issue for primary teachers, it’s a concern for all working people and all citizens, these tactics end up undermining our whole employment framework as well as our public education system.

“All working New Zealanders deserve to be respected and paid fairly for their work. We need laws and employers that ensure this is the reality,” Ross says.

For further comment - Kirsten McDougall, media@teu.ac.nz