'It's a tough job. But the way to deal with that is not to go on strike,' PM says
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has slammed unions for "driving" the strike actions across New Zealand ahead of the teacher strike on Tuesday and the mega-strike next week.
"It's a shame, really. I think people are getting sick of unions prioritising the politics over patients, or kids in education and parents being mucked around," Luxon told the Morning Report.
"I think Kiwis suffer when unions take this sort of action rather than getting around the table and bargaining and continuing to negotiate, which is what they should be doing."
Luxon said unions were driving the strike actions, while the workers they represent just want them back at the negotiating table.
"I'd say the workers actually want to get a deal done, right? I'd actually say they'd want their union members actually at the table with the employer negotiating, compromising, bargaining, doing exactly what unions and employers are supposed to do," he said during the interview.
"I get it. It's a tough job. But the way to deal with that is not to go on strike. The way to do it is to get your union to represent you to get back around that table."
Mega-strike ahead
Luxon made the remarks ahead of the partial strike action from the Post Primary Teachers' Association (PPTA) from Tuesday to Friday.
They will also join the nationwide mega-strike on October 23, which will also involve more than 11,500 allied health workers.
Workers are joining the mega-strike on October 23 to protest for better working conditions and better pay offers.
The PPTA last week accused the government of presenting them with a last-minute offer for settlement that would lapse if strike action was notified.
"As we have not had any bargaining since early September, to present an offer in this way was rushed and poorly thought out on the Government's part," said PPTA president Chris Abercrombie in a statement.
"I'm sorry to say that in several ways it was worse than the previous offer, so we have proceeded with calling the strike action."
The Public Service Assocation estimates nearly 17,000 of its health members, including allied health staff, mental and public health nurses will join the strike over pay and conditions.
"Overworked and undervalued health workers cannot keep delivering the care patients need or deserve. Communities deserve timely care, at safely staffed services, in excellent clinics," the union said in a statement.
