About 1500 teachers turned up for a meeting today to discuss the new offer from government over pay and conditions.
Photo: RNZ / Eva Corlett
The Post Primary Teachers Association (PPTA) has suggested teachers reject the offer, which it said is largely unchanged from another offer teachers rejected in September.
Union president Jack Boyle said the offer was a "shuffling of the deck chairs" that was last minute, half-hearted and irresponsible.
Teachers are seeking better pay, better staffing, cuts to unnecessary administrative red tape, and upped allowances to create better conditions in the classroom.
The government's latest offer didn't come close to attracting and retaining teachers, he said.
"It leaves all of us falling further behind," he said.
The government hasn't budged on a range of demands, citing them as "too expensive', Mr Boyle said.
Photo: RNZ / Eva Corlett
There is a raft of issues growing every year, which have worsened through a decade of neglect under the former government, he said.
But now, he said, the responsibility lay with this government to address the issues.
Today's meeting was held in the Vodafone Events Centre in Manukau as part of a rolling series of paid union meetings across the country over two weeks.
The teachers will vote on whether to accept or reject the offer.
If it is rejected, teachers will look to strike in the first school term of 2019.
"We are here because we want the best education system for every student, where every teacher and young person feels supported and valued," Mr Boyle said.