Teachers taking strike action in Oamaru last year. Photo: ODTNew Zealand faces a day of disruption today as teachers walk out on 773,000 students in the country's first joint strike affecting all state and integrated schools. We understand the issues and we are sympathetic towards what the PPTA [Post Primary Teachers' Association] are trying to do." The NZEI is also unhappy with the pay offer because primary teachers' pay has fallen about 3 percent behind secondary teachers' pay because of the timing of the two collective agreements. NZ Initiative economist Dr Eric Crampton suggested the pay issue could be resolved by allowing teachers to pay more to their best teachers, rather than giving blanket pay rises to all teachers which taxpayers could not afford.

Source: Otago Daily Times May 28, 2019 19:17 UTC