Brian Roche: Public Service Commissioner on the latest pay offers to teachers

Recent pay offers to teachers are seen by the Public Service Commissioner as entirely reasonable. 

Primary teachers decided to reject its latest offer, while PPTA members are voting on the revised one. 

It includes increasing the number of days secondary teachers can be called back to work outside of term time. 

Commissioner Sir Brian Roche told Mike Hosking they have the ability to call them back for 10 more days a year, which is what's being asked. 

He says they're getting paid for this and just want teachers to be available for career development when students aren't at school. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
The industrial landscape, more strike action possible by teachers. Secondary
teacher has been off at two point five and two
point one over two years, union once that rejected. Meantime
Primary two point seven and four point one. I just
mighte finding warnings there's no more money. Sir Bryan rach
is the Public Services Commissioner, and he's with us morning,
Good morning May. On a scale of one to ten,
ten you want to ring somebody's neck. What's your level

(00:20):
of frustration over this?

Speaker 2 (00:23):
Definitely around eight to nine, because I think it's a
genuine lost opportunity to get a good outcome on a
timely basis that benefits.

Speaker 1 (00:32):
Teachers primary, particularly four point one. What's the problem?

Speaker 2 (00:39):
That's a problem. That's a question you really put to them.
We thought really hard about this. We were always wanting
this round to go as quickly and as efficiently as possible.
I think it's a very credible offer, it's very fair,
and it reflects some traders who have had to make
so the fact that they've rejected it, I just it's
illogical to me.

Speaker 1 (00:59):
I know the differences between jobs, I get that, but
the secondary at two point one versus primary at four
point one, Why is there a difference and is that
potentially an issue.

Speaker 2 (01:09):
No, those one is over one year, the other one
is over the period of the term. So it is
very fair and equitable between all teachers across the whole sector.
And that's something we did. We decided last week to
send a common letter to all three of them, as
I said earlier, because we already determined to stop the
disruption to the children, the students, the parents and the teachers.

(01:34):
And I'm very surprised that they rejected it out of hand.

Speaker 1 (01:37):
From their point of view, is this about money or
other stuff?

Speaker 2 (01:42):
They say, it's about other stuff, but that's a mystery.
I think ultimately it's about the headline number. I think
the headline number is very good. There's been a significant
investment put into education this year by the government through
the budget. We've done a lot of things including pain
this teacher's registration for each and vigil. These things all
demonstrate goodwill and commitment to the public education system.

Speaker 1 (02:06):
The callback days explain what they are and is that
part of the issue.

Speaker 2 (02:11):
I understand it's the issue that I haven't heard that
form me say. Look, I'll just talk you through so
that the callback days basically the teachers get paid fifty
two weeks a year, twelve weeks of which is non
contact time. So what we're saying is, actually, we currently
have the ability to call you back for more to
ten days. We're looking at another ten days. They are

(02:35):
getting paid for this. It's not that we're depriving them
of anything. We're just asking them to be available for
basically time when the students aren't at school for development
career development. It is entirely reasonable. We are not shorthanding
anyone here or short changing.

Speaker 1 (02:53):
So what's their problem? They don't want a call back
day no matter what you pay them, or they want
more to be paid for a callback.

Speaker 2 (03:01):
It would seem I'm genuinely confused. I'm not avoiding the question.
We already pay them, we have the ability, and we're
asking for them to make themselves available. I think it
is entirely reasonable as somebody who funds them, that we
have some determination over the twelve weeks non contact.

Speaker 1 (03:19):
How far apart are you in your gut? Do you think?

Speaker 2 (03:23):
Well? I didn't think we're far apart at all. I
just think there has to be other issues which have
not been brought to my attention. We're not trying to
be stupid here. We're trying to find an efficient way through.
It is a new bargaining ground. It was always going
to be difficult. I'm just really disappointed at where we've
ended up because I think the lost opportunity for the teachers.

Speaker 1 (03:43):
And also, in your gut, how much of this is
about the unions as opposed to your average teacher. If
you rounded ten of them up and ask them and
talk to them, is this a union issue or a
genuine teacher issue and all teachers are behind the union?

Speaker 2 (03:55):
I have my doubts actually on that MIC. I think
most teachers just want to be in the classroom. They
want some Susan team, and they want some reward. Right.

Speaker 1 (04:06):
Appreciate it very much. Brian Roch, who was the Public
Service Commissioner. For more from the Mic, Asking Breakfast, listen
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