Ministry of Education kick off industrial action

Staff at Ministry of Education kick off industrial action campaign

Workers at the Ministry of Education are holding a two-hour work stoppage at offices across the country on Thursday September 30.

This nationwide stoppage marks the start of an industrial action campaign by members of the Public Service Association (PSA) who work for the Ministry.

The PSA has been bargaining in good faith with the Ministry for a year. The union wants a fair pay system to be part of its members’ collective agreement.

“Our members have had enough of the Ministry’s arbitrary pay system that rewards only some. Last year our members pay was frozen while managers within the Ministry received over half a million dollars in bonuses,” says PSA National Secretary Brenda Pilott.

Ministry staff covered by other unions have progressive pay scales as part of their collective agreements but PSA members work under a discretionary pay system with no salary steps.

“The Ministry of Education has failed the most basic test in fairness,” says Brenda Pilott

“Its offer removes protections for fair pay, keeps the current arbitrary pay system and fails to take into account the rising cost of living and address a wage freeze.

“Our members voted for industrial action by a margin of 91%. This is exceptional and shows how high levels of frustration are.”

“All our members want is what other Ministry of Education union members have: a fair and transparent pay system and a decent pay increase. We’re also asking for extension of union coverage and removal of clawbacks.

“PSA members working in other government agencies have settled collective agreements that include fair pay systems. The Ministry needs to get over its ideological attachment to a discretionary pay system and come back to the bargaining table with something substantive for our members.

“We’ve altered our position and shown flexibility in an attempt to broker an agreement. We remain willing to talk at any time with the Ministry. It’s time for it to listen to our members and take their concerns seriously,” says Brenda Pilott.

Other centres
Staff are holding stop work meetings to discuss future industrial action.

Christchurch
Ministry staff in Christchurch have been working closely with schools, early childhood centres and the wider community in the aftermath of the Canterbury earthquake. While they fully support the industrial action of their colleagues they are committed to continue working with schools to ensure quality teaching continues in the wake of the quake. The PSA has exempted them from the stoppage but they will participate in the rest of the campaign.

Background Information
The PSA has around 580 members working for the Ministry of Education. Staff at National Office develop policy, advice to the Minister and participate on inter-agency groups.
In the regional offices staff work directly with schools and early childhood centres on a wide-range of issues including support with resourcing, staffing, property management, financial management, board training, early childhood centre licensing and professional development for teachers to lift student achievement.
Regional offices also play an important role in student engagement working with families and schools to place excluded and non-enrolled students.

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