1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:02,800 Speaker 1: Now bad news obviously if you've got kids at secondary school, 2 00:00:02,800 --> 00:00:04,520 Speaker 1: because teachers have announced they're going to go on strike 3 00:00:04,600 --> 00:00:07,680 Speaker 1: next Wednesday. They say the government's payoffer of a three 4 00:00:07,720 --> 00:00:10,959 Speaker 1: percent rise over three years is unsatisfactory. Chris Abercrombie is 5 00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:12,760 Speaker 1: the president of the PBTA and with us. 6 00:00:12,760 --> 00:00:15,600 Speaker 2: Hey Chris, good, how are you very well? Thank you? 7 00:00:15,640 --> 00:00:17,720 Speaker 2: So what does this mean? No school little on Wednesday? 8 00:00:18,480 --> 00:00:21,439 Speaker 3: Ah? Yeah, So for scenidary schools, no members will be 9 00:00:21,840 --> 00:00:25,720 Speaker 3: at those schools next Wednesday. Unfortunately, that's a decision we've 10 00:00:25,720 --> 00:00:27,560 Speaker 3: had to the membership has had to make. Teachers they've 11 00:00:27,560 --> 00:00:27,960 Speaker 3: had to make. 12 00:00:28,360 --> 00:00:29,560 Speaker 2: Okay, So have. 13 00:00:29,640 --> 00:00:32,600 Speaker 1: You conducted your your negotiations and good faith because the 14 00:00:32,600 --> 00:00:34,280 Speaker 1: Public Service Commissioner says you haven't. 15 00:00:35,600 --> 00:00:38,320 Speaker 3: I disagree with that. We're literally bargaining on Friday. It 16 00:00:38,360 --> 00:00:40,959 Speaker 3: was confirmed yesterday, so we're still at the table. We're 17 00:00:40,960 --> 00:00:44,520 Speaker 3: still bargaining. We've got a really well thought out claim 18 00:00:44,560 --> 00:00:47,240 Speaker 3: that deals with the needs of the sector. So yeah, 19 00:00:47,280 --> 00:00:48,479 Speaker 3: I disagree with that. 20 00:00:48,560 --> 00:00:50,080 Speaker 2: Have you put a counter offer on the table? 21 00:00:50,920 --> 00:00:53,440 Speaker 3: Well, we turned up with an offer. That's that's the 22 00:00:53,440 --> 00:00:55,200 Speaker 3: point of bargaining. We came with a claim. We said 23 00:00:55,200 --> 00:00:57,320 Speaker 3: these are the things that need to meet the unmet 24 00:00:57,320 --> 00:00:59,920 Speaker 3: need in our sector, and so we're and we will 25 00:01:00,120 --> 00:01:04,080 Speaker 3: to discuss those. So it's up to the government to 26 00:01:04,080 --> 00:01:07,160 Speaker 3: sort of do their part in this equation. We're doing ours, 27 00:01:07,720 --> 00:01:09,399 Speaker 3: so it's up to it's on the government side. 28 00:01:09,640 --> 00:01:11,080 Speaker 2: What's your claim? 29 00:01:11,680 --> 00:01:14,119 Speaker 3: Well, there's several passwords. There's obviously a pay claim. There's 30 00:01:14,160 --> 00:01:16,880 Speaker 3: also we need and cenders for curriculum leaders. We more 31 00:01:17,080 --> 00:01:21,400 Speaker 3: subject specialist advisors, teacher lead, PLD and development. We've got 32 00:01:21,400 --> 00:01:23,880 Speaker 3: so much change happening in the sector at the moment, 33 00:01:23,920 --> 00:01:26,640 Speaker 3: we need these really experienced leaders to be able to 34 00:01:26,640 --> 00:01:28,760 Speaker 3: support that change package through. 35 00:01:28,920 --> 00:01:30,560 Speaker 2: Okay, and what's your pay claim? 36 00:01:31,440 --> 00:01:33,720 Speaker 3: So it's a four percent a year for three years 37 00:01:33,760 --> 00:01:36,119 Speaker 3: and then plus another four percent in the first year 38 00:01:36,560 --> 00:01:39,160 Speaker 3: to recognize the removal of the pay equity claim that 39 00:01:39,440 --> 00:01:42,200 Speaker 3: we went almost about the settle but then was removed 40 00:01:42,200 --> 00:01:43,000 Speaker 3: with the urgent law. 41 00:01:43,040 --> 00:01:45,240 Speaker 2: True holden, was that four percent a year for three years? 42 00:01:45,720 --> 00:01:48,200 Speaker 3: Yeah, so four years, four year for three years at 43 00:01:48,240 --> 00:01:50,160 Speaker 3: plus a four percent and extra four percent in the 44 00:01:50,160 --> 00:01:52,600 Speaker 3: first year because of the removal of the pay equity 45 00:01:52,680 --> 00:01:53,360 Speaker 3: under urgency. 46 00:01:53,480 --> 00:01:55,320 Speaker 1: So eight percent in the first year, then four percent 47 00:01:55,360 --> 00:01:56,800 Speaker 1: then four percent yep. 48 00:01:57,200 --> 00:01:58,680 Speaker 2: Okay, do you think that's reasonable. 49 00:01:59,600 --> 00:02:01,880 Speaker 3: Well, we believers what we need to to meet the 50 00:02:01,920 --> 00:02:04,560 Speaker 3: needs we know we have an increasing shortage of teachers, 51 00:02:04,600 --> 00:02:08,799 Speaker 3: we have an increasingly complex work environment, and we need 52 00:02:08,800 --> 00:02:11,000 Speaker 3: to make sure we've got the skilled specialists in front 53 00:02:11,000 --> 00:02:13,600 Speaker 3: of our young people to implement the government change, but 54 00:02:13,639 --> 00:02:15,639 Speaker 3: also to maximize our young people to be the best 55 00:02:15,680 --> 00:02:16,040 Speaker 3: they can be. 56 00:02:16,120 --> 00:02:17,720 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, look, I want the good ones to be 57 00:02:17,760 --> 00:02:19,880 Speaker 1: paid paid really well, I totally agree with you. But 58 00:02:19,919 --> 00:02:22,359 Speaker 1: didn't you get fourteen and a half percent two years ago? 59 00:02:23,400 --> 00:02:26,040 Speaker 3: Yeah, and we need we need more. We need We 60 00:02:26,080 --> 00:02:28,360 Speaker 3: don't have enough teachers, is the short answer. And we 61 00:02:28,360 --> 00:02:29,720 Speaker 3: need more. Who are you. 62 00:02:29,680 --> 00:02:31,080 Speaker 2: Going to get the money from? Where's the government going 63 00:02:31,080 --> 00:02:31,840 Speaker 2: to get the money from? 64 00:02:32,280 --> 00:02:34,440 Speaker 3: Well, the government can make decisions about where they spend 65 00:02:34,480 --> 00:02:36,480 Speaker 3: their money, and it's up for the government to decide. 66 00:02:36,600 --> 00:02:38,880 Speaker 1: Yeah, okay, so you're okay if we start cutting stuff 67 00:02:39,160 --> 00:02:41,640 Speaker 1: like I don't know, reserve bank stuff, so you can 68 00:02:41,680 --> 00:02:42,400 Speaker 1: get pay raisers. 69 00:02:43,160 --> 00:02:45,480 Speaker 3: The government has to make decisions that make so for instance, 70 00:02:45,480 --> 00:02:48,120 Speaker 3: tax cuts for landlords for instance, or the decision they made. 71 00:02:48,400 --> 00:02:50,400 Speaker 3: They could make other decisions. It's up to the government 72 00:02:50,440 --> 00:02:52,680 Speaker 3: to decide how they spend their money. We believe the 73 00:02:52,680 --> 00:02:54,200 Speaker 3: best way is to support education. 74 00:02:54,880 --> 00:02:57,840 Speaker 2: Listen, Chris, I love you guys. I love a teacher. 75 00:02:58,040 --> 00:02:59,799 Speaker 1: I think you guys do excellent work, and I think 76 00:02:59,800 --> 00:03:02,920 Speaker 1: that brilliant one should be paid heaps because kids are 77 00:03:02,960 --> 00:03:04,160 Speaker 1: the most important thing that we do. 78 00:03:04,320 --> 00:03:04,519 Speaker 2: Right. 79 00:03:04,960 --> 00:03:06,840 Speaker 1: But I just think that you're going to lose the 80 00:03:06,880 --> 00:03:09,640 Speaker 1: confidence and you're going to lose the support of people. 81 00:03:09,800 --> 00:03:11,639 Speaker 2: This looks really grasping. 82 00:03:13,280 --> 00:03:15,480 Speaker 3: I disagree with that. We know parents want the best 83 00:03:15,480 --> 00:03:17,240 Speaker 3: of the kids. Teachers want the best of the kids. 84 00:03:17,480 --> 00:03:19,960 Speaker 3: We know parents support their local schools and their local 85 00:03:20,000 --> 00:03:22,760 Speaker 3: teachers and total somebody. 86 00:03:22,440 --> 00:03:25,120 Speaker 1: Else Chris named somebody else who was paid fourteen and 87 00:03:25,200 --> 00:03:27,320 Speaker 1: a half percent two years ago and then is going 88 00:03:27,400 --> 00:03:28,919 Speaker 1: to get eight percent and then four percent and then 89 00:03:28,919 --> 00:03:30,480 Speaker 1: four percent. That's not happening to anybody. 90 00:03:31,360 --> 00:03:33,840 Speaker 3: Well, we disagree. We think that this is really important. 91 00:03:33,880 --> 00:03:35,960 Speaker 3: It's what we need to meet the needs of our students. 92 00:03:35,960 --> 00:03:38,560 Speaker 3: We know there's increasing complex need in our schools and 93 00:03:38,600 --> 00:03:40,360 Speaker 3: we need to have a workforce ready to meet that. 94 00:03:41,080 --> 00:03:42,760 Speaker 2: Chris, listen, thanks very much, appreciate it. 95 00:03:42,840 --> 00:03:45,720 Speaker 1: Chris Abercrombie, President of the PPTA, I think you can 96 00:03:45,720 --> 00:03:46,520 Speaker 1: see where this is going. 97 00:03:46,520 --> 00:03:48,119 Speaker 2: I don't think they're going to be Flavor of the month. 98 00:03:48,200 --> 00:03:51,800 Speaker 3: After this are they for more from Hither Duplessy Allen Drive. 99 00:03:51,960 --> 00:03:55,400 Speaker 3: Listen live to news talks it'd be from four pm weekdays, 100 00:03:55,480 --> 00:03:57,640 Speaker 3: or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.