Dear John,

Strike Action=C2=A0
=C2=A0
Recently we experienced the Unions instigating strike action that disrupts =
our lives in important areas like health and education.=C2=A0

As you know nurses and doctors strikes cause disruption on the day but they=
also cause thousands of patients to wait for another round of rebooking an=
d then more waiting for the actual medical consultations and procedures. Fo=
r the Health workforce it means they have to go through a major administrat=
ive exercise to rebook all the patients affected by medical staff being una=
vailable on the strike day.=C2=A0

Then subsequently we had the PPTA which is the secondary teachers=E2=80=99 =
union, doing the same thing but this time disrupting the learning process o=
f our young people who are just gearing up for end of year assessments and =
exams under NCEA and Cambridge. =C2=A0

Some of these students are already disadvantaged because of the Covid lockd=
owns especially the extended ones in Auckland, and now their teachers=E2=80=
=99 union thinks its ok to down tools over their 3 per cent pay raise over =
three years offer.

Let=E2=80=99s not forget that teachers have received substantial pay increa=
ses of, on average, 14.5 per cent over the past three years. Plus an annual=
pay progression of between 4 and 7.5 per cent.=C2=A0
=C2=A0
I take this opportunity to repeat our apologies for giving incorrect inform=
ation about teachers=E2=80=99 salaries in a previous media announcement. An=
investigation of how this happened is under way.

Education Minister Hon Erica Stanford and I agree and have said that the PP=
TA union=E2=80=99s actions are disproportionate given that a fair offer has=
been made.=C2=A0
=C2=A0
We consider that the PPTA union officials decided to get teachers to strike=
without a reasonable period of engagement or offering a constructive alter=
native as part of the negotiations.=C2=A0
=C2=A0
Erica and I are part of a government that fully recognises the vital role t=
hat teachers play in shaping our young people academically and socially so =
that they can gain their useful NCEA or Cambridge qualifications. We all kn=
ow young people need these qualifications if they are to become a significa=
nt part of a valued workforce in the future, which is what New Zealand need=
s.
=C2=A0
This action of organising a strike by the PPTA was unduly disruptive to stu=
dent learning, and it also placed significant pressure on parents and careg=
ivers, who had to make alternative arrangements because their children are =
unable to attend school.
=C2=A0
We simply wanted the PPTA to return to the bargaining table with a commitme=
nt to constructive dialogue and a realistic settlement =E2=80=93 one that s=
upports teachers, students, families and the integrity of our public educat=
ion system.
=C2=A0

Voting in the Local Body Elections

Just reminding you that voting it is time to Vote for your Mayor, Councillo=
rs and Local Boards for Auckland or your relevant City/Ward.

Local Body Elections are done using a postal vote system and voting begins =
from 9 September when Vote Packs will start to be delivered to enrolled vot=
ers=E2=80=99 postal addresses. Vote Packs contact a booklet with informatio=
n on all the candidates, voting information and your Voting Papers.

If you are not enrolled or don=E2=80=99t receive your Vote Pack by 22 Septe=
mber your local library is able to update your enrolment and provide you wi=
th the relevant Voting Papers for your City/ Ward until midday on 11 Octobe=
r when voting ends.

You can post your votes back via NZPost or drop them into well-signposted v=
oting boxes in libraries, supermarkets and the Warehouse. Please remember t=
o vote.=C2=A0

All the best as we start to enjoy the signs of Spring,
=C2=A0

Judith

Hon Judith Collins KC
MP for Papakura

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=C2=A0
New Zealand National Party
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Thorndon, Wellington 6011
New Zealand
=C2=A0
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nd, then it is a fundraising event with proceeds, after costs, being a dona=
tion to the New Zealand National Party.
=C2=A0
Authorised by J de Joux, 41 Pipitea St, Wellington.

=C2=A9 2025 | All rights reserved.

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