New Zealand teachers are fleeing to better paying jurisdictions and the PPTA instead focusses on irrelevant programs. Thoughts on PPTA's misplaced priorities for teachers, from TPANZ Secretary Chris Dekker.
I’m penning this open letter to New Zealand teachers because I am alarmed that the main teaching union in this country, the Post Primary Teachers’ Association, is wasting potential salary increases for its members in pursuit of a woke agenda. I don’t say this lightly.
I have recently been informed that, as part of their 2024 Annual Conference, the PPTA has committed to campaigning for Queer Community Liaison roles within schools as part of collective agreement negotiations. That’s right: instead of pushing for greater salary increases with the limited amount of funding NZ Schools currently receive, the PPTA will seek to use their leverage to bring in specialised queer community liaison roles to schools.
While I entirely appreciate that affirmation of one’s gender identity can be a difficult process, I don’t believe that New Zealand teachers should reduce their salary negotiating power to provide services that are largely already available elsewhere in the 'rainbow community'. Many of these services are publicly-funded.
The starting base salary for a New Zealand public secondary teacher is $59,027 NZD. In Queensland, Australia, where many of our most talented teachers are fleeing to, it is $84,078 AUD (Approx. $91,000 NZD). We aren’t going to close this disparity in pay when our teaching unions are focussed on vanity culture projects. If implemented, this scheme would not only be a colossal waste of taxpayer funds, it would do nothing to fix the core problems New Zealand teachers face - student behaviour, understaffing, being overworked, and underpaid.
As a registered union, the TPANZ is likewise able to negotiate collective agreements for New Zealand teachers. The difference being that we’ll fight for increased pay and better conditions - the things your union is meant to be fighting for. We won’t spend your membership fees on fighting for measures that only reduce the amount of money you are able to be paid.
The TPANZ was founded by teachers who believe that your money should only be used for representation, negotiation and policy advocacy. Unlike our competitors, we are constitutionally prevented from providing in-kind or financial support to political parties, and we don’t believe in fighting irrelevant cultural battles. Ultimately, we want an education system that puts students first and appropriately rewards teachers to keep the profession thriving, and retaining the talent that we’ve got. This starts by getting teachers unions back to basics: fighting for pay and conditions.
Unfortunately, this latest measure isn’t the first and likely won’t be the last time the PPTA throws members money away in pursuit of their own agenda. Instead of pressuring the PPTA to put your interests first, I would encourage you to make the switch to TPANZ and hit them where it hurts - their hip pocket. Only then can you be sure that you are part of a union that puts teachers and students first, and prioritises bigger pay packets over politics.