Kindergarten teachers favour not striking

Ruapehu Bulletin, 25 August 1992, Page 16

Kindergarten teachers favour not striking

by

JULTE

Richardson

Local kindergarten teachers believe there are other ways besides striking to get their message across to the public. At a stop-work meeting last week the local kindergarten teachers agreed to suggest alternative action to the Combined Early Childhood Union of Aotearoa. Rather than a strike, the teachers favonred a more pro-ac-tive stance, such as increasing public awareness of the value of kindergarten education.

They wished to advise the public, possibly through an advertising campaign, about the effects the proposed changes may have on the kindergarten service and on the children of New Zealand. They agreed that while they were amenable to positive changes in kindergarten education, they believed the State Service Commission is trying to impose conditions in their employment that could lead to a user pays system. They believe the pro-

posed changes would be detrimental to the current system of kindergarten administration. The meeting was concerned that the proposals of the State Services Commission are motivated by cost-cutting measures, rather than aimed at benefiting New Zealand children. The meeting was attended by kindergarten teachers from Waiouru, Ohakune and T aihape, areas representing three different kindergarten associations. The teachers met to dis-

cuss the lack of progress in negotiating the collective employment contract for teachers which expired on 18 August. Jan Arithur, a kindergarten teacher present at the meeting, explained that the negotiations have stumbled over several changes to employment conditions proposed by the State Services Commission. These changes include a reduction in annual paid sick days from 16 to five. The meeting agreed that this number of days would often be insufficient. The State Services

Commission proposes four weeks' paid leave for kindergarten teachers, but Jan Arthur says that whether teachers will be forced to take them during

kindergarten holidays has not been clarified. The meeting was also concerned by the proposal that all teachers would be on performance pay. It

was felt that this would adversely affect the sharing of ideas and the teamwork between teachers which is an integral part of kindergarten education.