On May 29 2019, Aotearoa New Zealand’s entire education sector went out on a ‘mega-strike’, for the first time in history. During 10 years of the National Government the education sector was in crisis. NZEI Te Riu Roa, the primary teachers union, had steadily grown its capacity to campaign when teachers resisted some of the worst reforms imposed on them. By 2019 the profession was united around a strategy of deep member engagement, escalation and a clear narrative, ‘It’s Time’.

We spoke with NZEI Campaign Director Stephanie Mills, lead negotiator at the time and current NZEI President Liam Rutherford (@lrutherfordnz) and Auckland based primary teacher Kahli Olivera.

John Campbell’s report from the mega-strike

Article on the Chicago Teachers

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Thanks to Masarima and Clone Records for the title music

Thanks to Daniel Hart for the backing music

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