The first of the regional meetings was yesterday, when the Post Primary Teachers' Association announced its proposed claims.
PPTA president Jack Boyle said the education sector was faced with nationwide teacher shortages in many subjects because new teachers were leaving in droves, recruitment had drastically declined and middle leadership positions were ''just plain overwhelming''.
He said increasing numbers of pupils were being taught by teachers who were covering gaps in subjects they were not skilled in, or had courses cancelled because schools could not find teachers, or were in large classes to help cover staff shortages.
''Reversing the tide means big improvements in our profession so we can attract and retain teachers. We must make the job manageable and the remuneration competitive.
''It will mean making the Government put its hand very deep into its pocket.''
He said claims for a proposed new secondary teachers' collective agreement aimed to fix the teacher shortage and eliminate excessive workload.
''We are proposing a claim for 15% for the first year of a settlement. This would take the top of the base scale to $89,700.
''Our claim is to return to a pay rate that attracts and keeps teachers in the profession.''
The second pay claim was to increase unit values to $6000, and management allowances and senior management allowances to $1500.
''These are key drivers of supply in middle leadership, where jobs are currently some of the hardest to fill.''
The claim also aimed to address rising accommodation costs in some regions. Auckland, Wellington and Queenstown Lakes had been heavily impacted by these and had significant teacher shortages.
''We cannot solve the housing crisis, but we can use the collective agreement to help schools in those areas recruit teachers by providing some accommodation support.''
The payment would depend on rental costs in the suburbs around each school, and be up to $100 per week.
Other PPTA claims include additional non-contact time for all full-time teachers and teachers holding permanent management units; establishing Maori and Pasifika community liaison roles at the rate of one role per 100 Maori and Pasifika pupils; continuing the ministry's payment of Education Council practising fees; and increasing the Maori immersion teachers' allowance to bring it into line with the primary teachers' and area school teachers' collective agreements.
Mr Boyle said the claims would cover one year so the union could bargain with the present Government again, and make it clear the proposed changes were urgently needed to fix ''the dire teacher shortages''.
Union members attending the meetings will be able to add additional items to the claim.
A PPTA negotiation team will meet Ministry of Education representatives in late August.
