Strikes unite despite Thursday blowout

As Thursday’s nationwide strikes saw tens of thousands of people coming together in protest, local unions have enjoyed the chance to work together.

While the planned demonstration in Blenheim was cancelled due to the region’s wind warnings, Public Service Association delegate Louise Baker and Post-Primary Teachers Association delegate Dr Michael Harvey say standing together has been motivating.

“On the lead up to last Thursday, we had been coordinating together with signs or chants and a fair bit of contact with our fellow local union members”, Louise says.

“This strike had shown that us as union members have shared concerns across many different organisations, with obvious differences and requirements in the bargaining each union has with the Government.”

Michael agrees, saying that Thursday across the country saw teachers “shoulder-to-shoulder with our colleagues, highlighting collective strain”.

“Here in Marlborough, we had planned a strong local turnout, a visible show of solidarity to remind the Government that teaching is not sustainable when time for planning, student wellbeing, and professional collaboration is constantly squeezed.

“This action was never about pay alone. It was about the proposed loss of guaranteed hours of work, the ignoring of pastoral care provisions and the growing pressure on teachers to do more with less.

“We are disappointed that weather conditions forced us to cancel our local action, but the message remains the same - secondary teachers nationwide are united in calling attention to the increasingly unreasonable conditions we are facing in our schools.”

Louise says, “our salaries at Allied Health are reasonable but we are increasingly understaffed, have long waitlists for procedures, and one IT person physically here in Marlborough, all of which have a huge knock-on effect to our health system.

“There’s also lots of concern for us with what the Government has been saying - unions aren’t meddling in politics and members vote for actions.

“They’re saying ‘we need to get back to the bargaining table’ – I’m part of the PSA bargaining team and we have been at the bargaining table with Te Whatu Ora representatives whenever possible who want to reach settlement. Since July this year, they’ve been cut off at the knees because all they now can do is send recommendations to the Public Service Commission.

“It’s seeming really questionable to me that our bargaining team are speaking to Te Whatu Ora, who are basically working as a middleman.”

But despite the strike actions and cancelled Thursday event, Michael and Louise see silver linings and remain hopeful.

“The cancellation of Thursday’s event due to the weather warning doesn’t diminish our commitment - if anything, it underscores the resilience of those who continue to show up every day under challenging circumstances.

“We are frustrated, but resolute, and wait for the Government to return to the negotiating table and provide a reasonable offer, that respects our profession.
“You can’t supply proper healthcare and education by just slashing an already desperately underfunded and understaffed public system”, comments Louise.

“We’re optimistic that we have mediation in November and that we’ll reach an agreement, but if not, there’s further industrial action possibilities.”