1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:03,199 Speaker 1: So they reckon one hundred thousand teachers, nurses, dentists, medical staff, 2 00:00:03,200 --> 00:00:05,360 Speaker 1: you name it, walking off the job today nationwide, this 3 00:00:05,400 --> 00:00:07,720 Speaker 1: is the mega strike. Unions have called off the rallies 4 00:00:07,720 --> 00:00:10,079 Speaker 1: in Wellington, christ Church into Needin. This is because of 5 00:00:10,119 --> 00:00:12,719 Speaker 1: the weather. Chris Abercrombie's PPTA president with me this morning, 6 00:00:12,800 --> 00:00:13,560 Speaker 1: Good morning. 7 00:00:14,120 --> 00:00:14,640 Speaker 2: Good morning. 8 00:00:15,120 --> 00:00:17,120 Speaker 1: Is this one hundred thousand number accurate? 9 00:00:18,840 --> 00:00:22,040 Speaker 2: As accurate as it can be? You know, we think 10 00:00:22,079 --> 00:00:23,160 Speaker 2: that's about right. 11 00:00:23,239 --> 00:00:25,040 Speaker 1: Have you heard from the government or the Public Service 12 00:00:25,040 --> 00:00:25,799 Speaker 1: Commission lately? 13 00:00:27,040 --> 00:00:28,000 Speaker 2: No, we haven't known. 14 00:00:28,080 --> 00:00:30,200 Speaker 1: Have you tried to reach out to them. 15 00:00:31,120 --> 00:00:34,000 Speaker 2: We've made it very clear that we're more than happy 16 00:00:34,080 --> 00:00:36,440 Speaker 2: to talk about anything they want to talk about. 17 00:00:36,479 --> 00:00:39,000 Speaker 1: Have you messaged them, have you called them? Anything like that? 18 00:00:40,120 --> 00:00:44,159 Speaker 2: There's been some communication between our bargaining teams. 19 00:00:44,440 --> 00:00:44,960 Speaker 1: When is that? 20 00:00:46,360 --> 00:00:48,880 Speaker 2: Oh, there's some various emails have gone back and forth 21 00:00:49,080 --> 00:00:50,080 Speaker 2: over the last few days. 22 00:00:50,159 --> 00:00:52,959 Speaker 1: Okay, but nothing you're no one's sitting down. 23 00:00:54,040 --> 00:00:55,120 Speaker 2: No, no one's sitting down. 24 00:00:55,160 --> 00:00:57,680 Speaker 1: Note, and you didn't present the latest off of the teachers. 25 00:00:58,600 --> 00:01:00,400 Speaker 2: What were The teachers did get to see it and 26 00:01:00,440 --> 00:01:04,440 Speaker 2: they gave very good feedback on it. And basically there 27 00:01:04,560 --> 00:01:07,200 Speaker 2: was out biggest feedback was they found disrespected by it. 28 00:01:07,280 --> 00:01:10,679 Speaker 1: So you did present the offer formally to teachers. 29 00:01:11,319 --> 00:01:13,920 Speaker 2: Not formally, but they did, they did get the offer, 30 00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:15,959 Speaker 2: they did see it, and they did give feedback, thousands 31 00:01:16,000 --> 00:01:17,720 Speaker 2: and thousands of teacher to go feedback on it. 32 00:01:17,880 --> 00:01:19,280 Speaker 1: So you've got how many members. 33 00:01:19,080 --> 00:01:21,920 Speaker 2: You got twenty one thousand. 34 00:01:21,880 --> 00:01:23,160 Speaker 1: And how many gave feedback? 35 00:01:24,240 --> 00:01:26,280 Speaker 2: Oh, six seven thousand, I think. 36 00:01:26,360 --> 00:01:29,000 Speaker 1: Okay, So I mean not not a huge amount, is it? 37 00:01:30,560 --> 00:01:34,120 Speaker 2: No, But but it was very clear that we're people 38 00:01:34,120 --> 00:01:34,680 Speaker 2: south on it. 39 00:01:34,920 --> 00:01:36,840 Speaker 1: You guys are part of the CTU. The CTU is 40 00:01:36,880 --> 00:01:38,840 Speaker 1: in bed with labor. They've got voting powers and. 41 00:01:39,040 --> 00:01:42,080 Speaker 2: Hard we're not we're not doing this well, no, no. 42 00:01:42,200 --> 00:01:45,440 Speaker 1: I'm asking the question. Do you think you are a 43 00:01:45,480 --> 00:01:46,800 Speaker 1: political organization? 44 00:01:47,840 --> 00:01:53,040 Speaker 2: Are you? Are you asking of unions that are political organizations? Yes, yes, 45 00:01:53,240 --> 00:01:56,320 Speaker 2: unions are political organizations, just like Federated Farmers as a 46 00:01:56,360 --> 00:01:58,559 Speaker 2: political organization, but. 47 00:01:58,560 --> 00:02:01,840 Speaker 1: Not formally tied to the National Party. 48 00:02:02,200 --> 00:02:04,880 Speaker 2: I'm not formally tied to the Labor Party. PvdA is 49 00:02:04,920 --> 00:02:05,680 Speaker 2: not formally tied. 50 00:02:05,800 --> 00:02:10,680 Speaker 1: No, but you're part of the set, you know, yes, Okay, 51 00:02:10,720 --> 00:02:13,760 Speaker 1: So does that not make you buy association type or is. 52 00:02:13,720 --> 00:02:16,560 Speaker 2: This Well, wouldn't that make freederated farmers by association ties. 53 00:02:17,080 --> 00:02:19,240 Speaker 1: Well, they don't have it. They don't decide on who's 54 00:02:19,280 --> 00:02:21,200 Speaker 1: going to be the next national leader, you know what 55 00:02:21,240 --> 00:02:21,560 Speaker 1: I mean. 56 00:02:22,160 --> 00:02:24,200 Speaker 2: Well, that's a stretch. 57 00:02:24,880 --> 00:02:27,760 Speaker 1: Well that's not I mean, that's part of the labor rules, 58 00:02:27,800 --> 00:02:30,360 Speaker 1: isn't it. Can you see why? I guess can you 59 00:02:30,400 --> 00:02:33,640 Speaker 1: see why? There's an argument that you would be called 60 00:02:33,680 --> 00:02:36,840 Speaker 1: that these strikes would be called politically politically motivated. 61 00:02:37,639 --> 00:02:40,320 Speaker 2: Well, the employers, the governments, of course it would be 62 00:02:40,360 --> 00:02:44,440 Speaker 2: politically motivated. They make up the curriculum, they make up 63 00:02:44,440 --> 00:02:47,440 Speaker 2: in CA, they make up their pay rates, they do everything, 64 00:02:47,520 --> 00:02:50,560 Speaker 2: the government that affixed teachers, So of course it's political. 65 00:02:50,880 --> 00:02:53,280 Speaker 1: Have you had, Chris, if you guys had any correspondence 66 00:02:53,360 --> 00:02:56,000 Speaker 1: with any parties, you know, in organizing the strike anything 67 00:02:56,040 --> 00:02:56,400 Speaker 1: like that. 68 00:02:57,200 --> 00:02:58,760 Speaker 2: No, not, not, not that I'm aware of. 69 00:02:59,000 --> 00:03:02,040 Speaker 1: Okay, And is when's the next meeting that you know 70 00:03:02,240 --> 00:03:06,440 Speaker 1: of it scheduled for? And will this be the last 71 00:03:06,440 --> 00:03:08,560 Speaker 1: strike of the year? I know you've got another couple 72 00:03:08,680 --> 00:03:11,239 Speaker 1: sort of smaller ones happening, but is this the last 73 00:03:11,320 --> 00:03:13,400 Speaker 1: action for the year or what. 74 00:03:14,200 --> 00:03:17,000 Speaker 2: Our next formal meeting so the dates are locked in, 75 00:03:17,080 --> 00:03:19,799 Speaker 2: is November the eleventh. That's the date the ministry has 76 00:03:19,840 --> 00:03:24,359 Speaker 2: agreed to, and hopefully we will have more before that that. 77 00:03:24,480 --> 00:03:26,680 Speaker 2: We do have a half day strike on November the fifth, 78 00:03:27,320 --> 00:03:29,000 Speaker 2: but we'd loved to be able to call that off 79 00:03:29,040 --> 00:03:29,919 Speaker 2: if we don't need it. 80 00:03:30,080 --> 00:03:32,640 Speaker 1: All right, Chris, appreciate your time this morning. Thank you 81 00:03:32,680 --> 00:03:35,200 Speaker 1: for being with me. That is Chris Abercrombie, who's the 82 00:03:35,200 --> 00:03:36,240 Speaker 1: PPHA president. 83 00:03:37,200 --> 00:03:40,160 Speaker 2: For more from Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, Listen live 84 00:03:40,320 --> 00:03:43,320 Speaker 2: to news talks. It'd be from five am weekdays, or 85 00:03:43,360 --> 00:03:45,280 Speaker 2: follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.