Chris Abercrombie: PPTA President says the striking teachers are more than happy to talk to govt.

Unions say the mega-strikes today - are not just about them. 

Tens of thousands of workers across health and education are stopping work in their fight for better pay and conditions. 

More than 100 members gathered in Auckland last night - discussing the importance of strong public education and health systems. 

PPTA President Chris Abercrombie says that the public service commission hasn't yet made contact, but the teachers have made it clear, "we're more than happy to talk about anything they want to talk about."

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
So they reckon one hundred thousand teachers, nurses, dentists, medical staff,
you name it, walking off the job today nationwide, this
is the mega strike. Unions have called off the rallies
in Wellington, christ Church into Needin. This is because of
the weather. Chris Abercrombie's PPTA president with me this morning,
Good morning.

Speaker 2 (00:14):
Good morning.

Speaker 1 (00:15):
Is this one hundred thousand number accurate?

Speaker 2 (00:18):
As accurate as it can be? You know, we think
that's about right.

Speaker 1 (00:23):
Have you heard from the government or the Public Service
Commission lately?

Speaker 2 (00:27):
No, we haven't known.

Speaker 1 (00:28):
Have you tried to reach out to them.

Speaker 2 (00:31):
We've made it very clear that we're more than happy
to talk about anything they want to talk about.

Speaker 1 (00:36):
Have you messaged them, have you called them? Anything like that?

Speaker 2 (00:40):
There's been some communication between our bargaining teams.

Speaker 1 (00:44):
When is that?

Speaker 2 (00:46):
Oh, there's some various emails have gone back and forth
over the last few days.

Speaker 1 (00:50):
Okay, but nothing you're no one's sitting down.

Speaker 2 (00:54):
No, no one's sitting down.

Speaker 1 (00:55):
Note, and you didn't present the latest off of the teachers.

Speaker 2 (00:58):
What were The teachers did get to see it and
they gave very good feedback on it. And basically there
was out biggest feedback was they found disrespected by it.

Speaker 1 (01:07):
So you did present the offer formally to teachers.

Speaker 2 (01:11):
Not formally, but they did, they did get the offer,
they did see it, and they did give feedback, thousands
and thousands of teacher to go feedback on it.

Speaker 1 (01:17):
So you've got how many members.

Speaker 2 (01:19):
You got twenty one thousand.

Speaker 1 (01:21):
And how many gave feedback?

Speaker 2 (01:24):
Oh, six seven thousand, I think.

Speaker 1 (01:26):
Okay, So I mean not not a huge amount, is it?

Speaker 2 (01:30):
No, But but it was very clear that we're people
south on it.

Speaker 1 (01:34):
You guys are part of the CTU. The CTU is
in bed with labor. They've got voting powers and.

Speaker 2 (01:39):
Hard we're not we're not doing this well, no, no.

Speaker 1 (01:42):
I'm asking the question. Do you think you are a
political organization?

Speaker 2 (01:47):
Are you? Are you asking of unions that are political organizations? Yes, yes,
unions are political organizations, just like Federated Farmers as a
political organization, but.

Speaker 1 (01:58):
Not formally tied to the National Party.

Speaker 2 (02:02):
I'm not formally tied to the Labor Party. PvdA is
not formally tied.

Speaker 1 (02:05):
No, but you're part of the set, you know, yes, Okay,
So does that not make you buy association type or is.

Speaker 2 (02:13):
This Well, wouldn't that make freederated farmers by association ties.

Speaker 1 (02:17):
Well, they don't have it. They don't decide on who's
going to be the next national leader, you know what
I mean.

Speaker 2 (02:22):
Well, that's a stretch.

Speaker 1 (02:24):
Well that's not I mean, that's part of the labor rules,
isn't it. Can you see why? I guess can you
see why? There's an argument that you would be called
that these strikes would be called politically politically motivated.

Speaker 2 (02:37):
Well, the employers, the governments, of course it would be
politically motivated. They make up the curriculum, they make up
in CA, they make up their pay rates, they do everything,
the government that affixed teachers, So of course it's political.

Speaker 1 (02:50):
Have you had, Chris, if you guys had any correspondence
with any parties, you know, in organizing the strike anything
like that.

Speaker 2 (02:57):
No, not, not, not that I'm aware of.

Speaker 1 (02:59):
Okay, And is when's the next meeting that you know
of it scheduled for? And will this be the last
strike of the year? I know you've got another couple
sort of smaller ones happening, but is this the last
action for the year or what.

Speaker 2 (03:14):
Our next formal meeting so the dates are locked in,
is November the eleventh. That's the date the ministry has
agreed to, and hopefully we will have more before that that.
We do have a half day strike on November the fifth,
but we'd loved to be able to call that off
if we don't need it.

Speaker 1 (03:30):
All right, Chris, appreciate your time this morning. Thank you
for being with me. That is Chris Abercrombie, who's the
PPHA president.

Speaker 2 (03:37):
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