Teachers take strike action

A DigitalNZ Story by Zokoroa

Teachers striving for improved working conditions, appropriate remuneration, and pay parity between preschool, primary and secondary school teaching has been ongoing for decades, as illustrated by the following cartoons.

Teachers, strikes, industrial action, pay parity, equal pay, salaries, working conditions, schools, education

TEACHERS AND THEIR JOURNEY:

Teachers striving for improved working conditions, appropriate remuneration, and pay parity between preschool, primary and secondary school teaching has been ongoing for decades, as illustrated by the following cartoons. The national NZEI strike of primary school teachers and principals, scheduled for 15 August 2018, last occurred in 1994 (see Stuff.co.nz article). The Post-Primary Teachers' Association (PPTA) is also currently involved in contract negotiations with the Ministry of Education (see Stuff.co.nz article).

Image: Teachers pay rise

Teachers pay rise

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Tremain, Garrick 1941- :If you can't fit it all on, leave off anything for school teachers and I'll deliver it next year... they're used to waiting. 3 December 2012

Tremain, Garrick 1941- :If you can't fit it all on, leave off anything for school teachers and I'll deliver it next year... they're used to waiting...

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Fletcher, David 1952- :'Are the teachers STILL on strike?!....Tell them to think about the children in their classes!' 'That might make them strike for even longer!' The Dominion, 30 October, 2001.

Fletcher, David 1952- :'Are the teachers STILL on strike?!....Tell them to think about the children in their classes!' 'That might make them strike...

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Fletcher, David 1952- :'Have the teachers accepted my latest offer?' 'No....But they have corrected its punctuation and spelling!' The Dominion, 29 October, 2001.

Fletcher, David 1952- :'Have the teachers accepted my latest offer?' 'No....But they have corrected its punctuation and spelling!' The Dominion, 29...

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: NZEI umbrella

NZEI umbrella

NZEI Te Riu Roa (New Zealand Educational Institute)

Image: Nisbet, Alistair, 1958- :More Cash! Teachers have rights too! Sort it out! 'Just preparing for the new term dear!' Christchurch Press. 8 July, 2002.

Nisbet, Alistair, 1958- :More Cash! Teachers have rights too! Sort it out! 'Just preparing for the new term dear!' Christchurch Press. 8 July, 2002.

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: "I'd like to march but I'm too stuffed!" 20 October 2010

"I'd like to march but I'm too stuffed!" 20 October 2010

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Scott, Tom 1947- :Dear teachers union, as a parent of a school kid you have my support in your fight for good pay pleez dont hesitate to go on strike all year if you have to. All the best - A wellwisher. 28 February 1995

Scott, Tom 1947- :Dear teachers union, as a parent of a school kid you have my support in your fight for good pay pleez dont hesitate to go on stri...

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Fletcher, David 1952- :'The Minister cannot negotiate with the teachers while they continue their strike action!' 'WHY NOT?' 'He's stuck at home looking after his kids.'The Dominion, 10 May, 2002.

Fletcher, David 1952- :'The Minister cannot negotiate with the teachers while they continue their strike action!' 'WHY NOT?' 'He's stuck at home lo...

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Fletcher, David, 1952- :'The Minister's on a non-stop tour of the country.' 'Why non-stop?' 'The teachers are chasing him.' The Dominion, 13 June 2002.

Fletcher, David, 1952- :'The Minister's on a non-stop tour of the country.' 'Why non-stop?' 'The teachers are chasing him.' The Dominion, 13 June 2...

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Fletcher, David 1952- :'This is the percentage increase in pay the teachers are demanding.' 'That's an utterly ridiculous increase!...That's almost as much as we got!' The Dominion, 30 March 2002.

Fletcher, David 1952- :'This is the percentage increase in pay the teachers are demanding.' 'That's an utterly ridiculous increase!...That's almost...

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: "Here are the details on 'Strike and win'." "What's that - a new lottery?" "It's what the teachers are calling their upcoming pay talks." 1 July, 2003.

"Here are the details on 'Strike and win'." "What's that - a new lottery?" "It's what the teachers are calling their upcoming pay talks." 1 July, 2...

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Pay Parity for Primary Teachers sticker

Pay Parity for Primary Teachers sticker

NZEI Te Riu Roa (New Zealand Educational Institute)

Image: Slane, Christopher, 1957- :Teachers aid. 20 March 2014

Slane, Christopher, 1957- :Teachers aid. 20 March 2014

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Fletcher, David 1952-:'The wage negotiations with the Post Primary Teachers' Association have stalled...How do we get them moving again?' 'There are hundreds of teachers outside offering to give you a kick start.' The Dominion, 14 March, 2002.

Fletcher, David 1952-:'The wage negotiations with the Post Primary Teachers' Association have stalled...How do we get them moving again?' 'There ar...

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Fletcher, David, 1952- :'I NEVER want to hear the word TEACHER again!!!' 'The underpaid, childhood education facilitators are here to see you.' The Dominion, 12 June 2002.

Fletcher, David, 1952- :'I NEVER want to hear the word TEACHER again!!!' 'The underpaid, childhood education facilitators are here to see you.' The...

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Fletcher, David, 1952- :'Did you deface my billboard?' 'No...My teacher beat me to it!' The Dominion, 15 June 2002.

Fletcher, David, 1952- :'Did you deface my billboard?' 'No...My teacher beat me to it!' The Dominion, 15 June 2002.

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Fletcher, David, 1952- :'The school kids are revolting!!!' 'I know....That's why the teachers want more money.' The Dominion, 17 June 2002.

Fletcher, David, 1952- :'The school kids are revolting!!!' 'I know....That's why the teachers want more money.' The Dominion, 17 June 2002.

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Crimp, Daryl 1958- :Teachers' pay scrap set to escalate... 'We need more money from the Government!' 'If we were to kidnap a whole class ...at three million bucks a head....' MORE PAY. Govt Defends Ransom Offer. Approximate publishing date 25 April 2002.

Crimp, Daryl 1958- :Teachers' pay scrap set to escalate... 'We need more money from the Government!' 'If we were to kidnap a whole class ...at thre...

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: "I'm looking forward to the school holidays! It's the only time teachers don't threaten to go on strike. 14 November, 2002.

"I'm looking forward to the school holidays! It's the only time teachers don't threaten to go on strike. 14 November, 2002.

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Crimp, Daryl, 1958- :Mutinous Teachers threaten pay deal. 'We don't accept their final offer... so are keeping the doors open for a better deal!' PPTA. 'Wild... cat!' 22 May 2002.

Crimp, Daryl, 1958- :Mutinous Teachers threaten pay deal. 'We don't accept their final offer... so are keeping the doors open for a better deal!' P...

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Ekers, Paul, 1961- :'I take it the kids were rostered home today dear?' 19 July, 2002.

Ekers, Paul, 1961- :'I take it the kids were rostered home today dear?' 19 July, 2002.

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: "It's gone very quiet out there. Have the protesting kindergarten teachers gone?" "No, it's nap time." 10 December, 2005.

"It's gone very quiet out there. Have the protesting kindergarten teachers gone?" "No, it's nap time." 10 December, 2005.

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Fletcher, David 1952- :'I'm giving you an extra 350 teachers this year!' PPTA 'But we asked for 1850 extra teachers!' 'That's near enough.' PPTA 'You might like to keep one of the maths teachers for yourself!' The Dominion, 3 August 2001.

Fletcher, David 1952- :'I'm giving you an extra 350 teachers this year!' PPTA 'But we asked for 1850 extra teachers!' 'That's near enough.' PPTA 'Y...

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Ekers, Paul, 1961- :Secondary teachers to get payrise. Marlborough Express, 14 August 2004.

Ekers, Paul, 1961- :Secondary teachers to get payrise. Marlborough Express, 14 August 2004.

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: The short-sighted... "I think it says give us more money..." 20 October 2010

The short-sighted... "I think it says give us more money..." 20 October 2010

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Ekers, Paul, 1961-: Secondary teachers to take strike action. 31 August 2010

Ekers, Paul, 1961-: Secondary teachers to take strike action. 31 August 2010

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: "Don't tell me, let me guess! There's going to be a shortage of teachers again this year." "Nope. This year they're calling it a surplus of children." 6 January, 2006.

"Don't tell me, let me guess! There's going to be a shortage of teachers again this year." "Nope. This year they're calling it a surplus of childre...

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Fletcher, David 1952-: 'If we remove the things teachers don't like, they'll stay in the profession!...What makes them leave?' 'The kids.' 'That could be a problem.' The Dominion, 09 January 2002.

Fletcher, David 1952-: 'If we remove the things teachers don't like, they'll stay in the profession!...What makes them leave?' 'The kids.' 'That co...

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Fletcher, David 1952- :"The teachers are refusing to do was they're told!!!" ... 27 August 2011

Fletcher, David 1952- :"The teachers are refusing to do was they're told!!!" ... 27 August 2011

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Fletcher, David 1952- :'The teachers have decided to do what they do best.' 8 December 2012

Fletcher, David 1952- :'The teachers have decided to do what they do best.' 8 December 2012

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: "The school teachers are here!" "I will not give in to their threats!" "They've brought their classes with them." "Give them whatever they want." 11 April, 2003.

"The school teachers are here!" "I will not give in to their threats!" "They've brought their classes with them." "Give them whatever they want." 1...

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Fletcher, David 1952-:'The teachers want more money and so do the nurses.' 'We'll compromise!...Give the teachers who train nurses more money.' The Dominion, 06 December 2001.

Fletcher, David 1952-:'The teachers want more money and so do the nurses.' 'We'll compromise!...Give the teachers who train nurses more money.' The...

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Fletcher, David 1952- :'The teachers are complaining that the minister doesn't listen to what they're saying!' 19 February 2013

Fletcher, David 1952- :'The teachers are complaining that the minister doesn't listen to what they're saying!' 19 February 2013

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Fletcher, David, 1952- :'The teacher shortage will not be a problem- we have put measures in place to make up for the shortfall.' 'What measures are those?' 'I can't explain now. We've both got classes to take.' Dominion Post, 23 January 2004.

Fletcher, David, 1952- :'The teacher shortage will not be a problem- we have put measures in place to make up for the shortfall.' 'What measures ar...

Alexander Turnbull Library

(This DigitalNZ story was created in 2018)