30,000 teachers have gone on strike in New Zealand on Wednesday to demand an increase in salaries and wages, carrying out rallies and street protests across the country.
According to the New Zealand Trade Union, the Primary and Intermediate school teachers are taking part in a Nation-wide strike; the first of such in 20 years.
This latest strike was organised by the New Zealand Educational Institute which is the largest education trade union in the country.
The Union announced the strike on Wednesday on Facebook as the teachers took to the streets all over the country.
“Today history was made as 30,000 teachers took to the street nationwide. Thousands turned out at rallies and marches across the country to support primary teachers and principals!”
The trade union wrote.
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According to Radio New Zealand, the striking teachers are demanding for smaller class sizes as well as a 16 percent increase in wages backdated for two years for primary school teachers and special education coordinators.
The New Zealand Ministry of Education however insisted on gradual pay increases instead. It offered an increase of between 14 percent for new teachers and 6 percent for their more experienced colleagues.
Although the strike was meant to last for just one day, the striking teachers have threatened to extend it to two days if the Ministry of Education refused to offer them a better deal during the rallies.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern had addressed a crowd after the rally and called on the striking teachers to cooperate with the government on the matter and end the strike.
He said meaningful change would come but it would take time for the effects to be seen.
This is the first time since 1994 that New Zealand’s teachers have boycotted classes and organised a strike.