Today's NZEI strike by Otago and Southland primary and intermediate teachers appears to be dividing parents in the community.
An Otago Daily Times online survey yesterday revealed 55% of parents supported teachers in their fight for better work conditions, while 45% did not and were becoming increasingly frustrated by the inconvenience the strikes were causing.
More than 100 people voted in the online poll.
Comments also reflected the mood of the community.
One person said: ''Go hard teachers. You deserve it after National gave you's [sic] nothing for years''.
However, another said: ''If the teachers don't like the pay offered, then why don't they join private enterprise and see how much they can earn from their education services?''
Teachers have said their fight is not all about pay. Rather, the sticking point was that the new offer did not address work load and teacher release conditions.
Teachers will meet this morning in Dunedin, Balclutha, Queenstown, Wanaka, Invercargill, Oamaru, Gore and Alexandra to consider the Ministry of Education's latest offer.
Following the meetings, hundreds of demonstrators are expected to protest around the region - including more than 1000 in Dunedin's Octagon.
The ministry's $698 million offer is an increase of $129 million from the previous offer, and includes a 3% pay increase to teachers' base salaries each year for the next three years; an additional step at the top of the pay scale and an increase to the maximum base salary for all qualification groups; a significant investment in learning support to address both the needs of children, increase teacher supply and ease workload on teachers; and a one-off gross payment of $500 for all NZEI Te Riu Roa members.
