Industrial relations for New Zealand teachers

There have been major changes in both the educational and state sector contexts of industrial relations over the past few years, and it appears that these processes are by no means over. This paper deals with the industrial relations structure extant in 1988, the legal framework developed since that date and the consequent modification of practice of industrial relations in the Education sector, and notes the confirmation of the new structures in the Employment Contracts Bill. It draws on the theoretical perspective developed by O'Brien from within New Zealand (1990) and on the contrasting perspectives of Bacharach and Shedd (1990) and Mitchell (1990) emerging from the United States. The paper concludes by posing questions to be answered before a new model of industrial relations can be developed in the interests of effective educational and educative organisations in New Zealand.