Friday 10 March 2023
Re: Strike Action Thursday 16 March.
Tēnā koutou e te whānau o Te Kura o Pipitea
Primary school principals and teachers have voted to participate in industrial action on Thursday 16 March. This is a full day strike so school will be closed. TASC will not be available on this day.
Our kaiako will join their colleagues from kindergartens alongside PPTA secondary school teachers in holding joint action across Aotearoa New Zealand.
As a Board we support our staff advocating for quality education for mokopuna. Why?
Unfortunately, the funding for our schools is not enough to give kaiako the time they would like to support all our mokopuna to thrive.
Principals and teachers in primary and area schools have considered at length offers from the government to settle their respective collective agreements.
The offers did not meet their expectations, nor make sufficient steps towards the changes they need for our mokopuna to succeed.
You may have seen that the education sector voted to take industrial action on 16 March.
It’s the last thing they wanted to do. And the decision was not taken lightly.
Teachers and principals felt that this was the only way the government would listen and recognise that when they support our children to learn and succeed, we are supporting whānau and communities to thrive.
We look forward to another great year in 2023 – and together with your support, building the case for better investment in our mokopuna.
Ngā mihi
Ben Szeto
Acting Chairperson
Thorndon School