Liam Rutherford

Our largest education union says the Government's attempt to fix workforce shortages has missed the mark. Labour has announced up to one thousand new teachers will be recruited, mostly from overseas and more scholarships will be funded for people wanting to become teachers mid-career. NZEI President Liam Rutherford told Kate Hawkesby things have changed since 30 years ago when funding systems were set up. He says there are some roles which aren't being filled. Rutherford says we don't have the right specialist roles like speech language therapists and education psychologists and in the current environment it's kids who are missing out. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Figures show relief teachers are leaving the job in droves. The number of available substitutes has dropped by a third. NZEI president Liam Rutherford told Heather du Plessis-Allan Covid's meant people are searching for more secure employment. “A large part of our reliever workforce is made up of people returning from paternity leave. There’s also an increasing number of people who haven’t found their first full-time job that end up in relieving.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mixed reaction to the Government's decision to push ahead with Fair Pay Agreements. The bill was submitted to Parliament yesterday - in a bid by the Government to lift incomes and improve working conditions.  It would allow employees to force negotiations with employers, if 10 percent of the workforce, or a thousand workers, agree. Primary teacher union NZEI president Liam Rutherford told Kate Hawkesby early childhood is one sector welcoming this news. He says they can use Fair Pay Agreements to attract and retain teachers in the system. LISTEN ABOVE

Mixed reaction to the Government's decision to push ahead with Fair Pay Agreements. The bill was submitted to Parliament yesterday - in a bid by the Government to lift incomes and improve working conditions.  It would allow employees to force negotiations with employers, if 10 percent of the workforce, or a thousand workers, agree. Primary teacher union NZEI president Liam Rutherford told Kate Hawkesby early childhood is one sector welcoming this news. He says they can use Fair Pay Agreements to attract and retain teachers in the system. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anxiety about Omicron as schools prepare to welcome back students for the start of Term One.Most students are returning this week under the Red Traffic Light setting.Teachers and students in years four and up will need to wear masks indoors, and teachers must be vaccinated.President of primary teachers' union NZEI Liam Rutherford told Roman Travers while school closures will be rare, it's unclear what school will look like when more people are identified as close contacts.“Schools are bracing themselves for how you keep your school open when you’ve got a large chunk of your staff or a large chunk of your students all close contacts or with Covid.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anxiety about Omicron as schools prepare to welcome back students for the start of Term One.Most students are returning this week under the Red Traffic Light setting.Teachers and students in years four and up will need to wear masks indoors, and teachers must be vaccinated.President of primary teachers' union NZEI Liam Rutherford told Roman Travers while school closures will be rare, it's unclear what school will look like when more people are identified as close contacts.“Schools are bracing themselves for how you keep your school open when you’ve got a large chunk of your staff or a large chunk of your students all close contacts or with Covid.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The union representing primary school teachers is stopping short of asking for compulsory vaccinations, but is encouraging staff to get them. The Government says Auckland schools will probably reopen after the holidays, on October 18, but there are few details so far. NZEI President Liam Rutherford, told Mike Yardley principals have told him there are schools where not all staff have had the jab. He says the organisation is not calling for vaccine mandates. "But at the same time, we are encouraging absolutely everybody to go out and get vaccinated. It is the greatest tool we have to keep ourselves safe." LISTEN ABOVE

The union representing primary school teachers is stopping short of asking for compulsory vaccinations, but is encouraging staff to get them. The Government says Auckland schools will probably reopen after the holidays, on October 18, but there are few details so far. NZEI President Liam Rutherford, told Mike Yardley principals have told him there are schools where not all staff have had the jab. He says the organisation is not calling for vaccine mandates. "But at the same time, we are encouraging absolutely everybody to go out and get vaccinated. It is the greatest tool we have to keep ourselves safe." LISTEN ABOVE

Auckland parents are begging schools to bring the holidays forward, so they fall during lockdown rather than during lockdown.President of New Zealand Educational Institute Liam Rutherford says it will mean a really long term four.He says last lockdown, a lot of wellbeing issues didn't come when kids were back in classrooms but weeks later.LISTEN ABOVE

Auckland parents are begging schools to bring the holidays forward, so they fall during lockdown rather than during lockdown.President of New Zealand Educational Institute Liam Rutherford says it will mean a really long term four.He says last lockdown, a lot of wellbeing issues didn't come when kids were back in classrooms but weeks later.LISTEN ABOVE