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Christchurch fights back over school closures - Source: ONE News -
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Christchurch teachers have voted overwhelmingly to take strike action over Government plans for the city.
Around 1500 teachers from more than 100 schools were at this afternoon's meeting and in a quick ballot voted to strike on February 19 next year.
The vote was in response to the planned closure and merging of more than 30 schools in the region. Teachers told ONE News the proposed changes to the city's education system are unjustified.
And they said they are unhappy with what they say has been a lack of consultation.
They were presented with three options - to strike either next week, next year or not at all.
The February 19 strike date coincides with when the ministry is expected to announce its final reform changes to the city.
NZEI national president Ian Leckie says the Government will need to reconsider its position.
Leckie says the consultation process has been flawed and the decisions are flawed.
"Today's outraged vote is quite clearly symptomatic of that," he said.
"They will need to go back and start this process again."