You don't get me, I'm part of the union (Strawbs)

My history with the Post Primary Teachers' Association (PPTA) began in 1983 and ended when I went to England to work in 2004. 

On becoming a principal, I joined the Secondary Principals' Association of New Zealand (SPANZ). That lapsed when I went to the Middle East as an advisor and then China. 

Upon returning to Nu Zild and teaching again, I didn't bother rejoining the PPTA and my move to a private school meant a union was redundant.

But now, in 2025, I've rejoined the PPTA. 

Why? If you've been reading my posts about the AI revolution you'll get an understanding about the disquiet I feel for the future of my profession. AI marking is just the beginning.

The clincher was watching a news clip of our Education Minister and 'Crusher' Collins moaning about the proposed industrial action. The sight of two political hypocrites lamenting the plight of the 'poor kids' being abandoned for a strike day was my tipping point.

First, they tell me NCEA is untrustworthy, and in the next breath that 'the kids' will be disadvantaged by missing a day. Make up your minds!

The next night the Health Minister was trotting out the same party line after nurses also signaled strike action. The poor patients, missing nurses for a shift. That should signal something to the minister you would think. In maternity (where Jacky works) midwives and doctors get a taste of short staffing for a day - excellent. 

So, I'm a union man again! 

All together now, with Strawbs:

Oh, oh, you don't get me, I'm part of the union
You don't get me, I'm part of the union
You don't get me, I'm part of the union
Until the day I die, until the day I die