Teachers ready to strike over better pay, conditions

Teachers are ready to go on strike over fair pay and conditions. Delegates to the annual Post Primary Teachers Association conference yesterday rejected an offer, which would have given most secondary teachers an increase of 9.3 percent over three years. Education Minister Chris Hipkins says the government is stretching the envelope with the offer. But teachers' argue it doesn't go far enough and they are ready to ditch the classroom for the pavement. Terry McNamara teaches at Gore High School. He says the offer is woefully low and will do nothing to keep younger teachers in the profession. The 68-year-old told RNZ's Jonathan Mitchell he came out of retirement and returned to teaching to fill a vacant role because there was no one else available.