Industrial action

If senior doctors' national agreement is not settled by a week before the general election they may reconsider industrial action.

The Education Ministry says it is delighted to have reached a proposed pay settlement with primary school teachers and principals.

Procedure changes designed to avoid adverse events for patients during strikes have been effective so far during the latest industrial action, Southern District Health Board chief medical officer (Otago) Richard Bunton says.

The Post Primary Teachers' Association and the Ministry of Education have resumed pay talks, but left annoyed and frustrated secondary schools in their wake.

The Post Primary Teachers' Association yesterday called off strike action planned for today - but the decision was announced when classrooms were empty.

The Post Primary Teachers Association has foreshadowed continuing industrial action until December if secondary school teachers' conditions are not met.

All 163 year 11 pupils at Wakatipu High School had an unexpected day off yesterday as 39 of the school's 50 teachers took industrial action.

Secondary teachers say they will continue striking despite Education Minister Anne Tolley urging them to return to the bargaining table.

District Health Boards pulled the plug on contract settlement options with the union representing radiographers today, saying "enough is enough".

Teachers rejected a good offer from the Government, and the only people to suffer will be students, Prime Minister John Key says.