Another Novopay debacle hits 6000 school support staff

10 March 2016

Novopay is again incurring the wrath of educators, after it unilaterally decided to reduce the fortnightly pay of 6000 school support staff by almost 4 percent for a year.

Novopay, which is back under Ministry of Education control, has ruled that annualised support staff be paid less on each of the next 27 fortnightly pay dates (54 weeks) from 3 February 2016 until 1 February 2017 rather than their regular pay over 26 fortnights (52 weeks).

This reduces the income of already low-paid women by 3.7%, and for many families has made an already-tight budget impossible to live on.

NZEI Te Riu Roa believes this is unjust and illegal and has taken the case to the Employment Relations Authority, which has agreed to a hearing on April 7.

NZEI National Secretary Paul Goulter says Novopay’s explanation blaming the accumulation of an extra pay period every 11 years is nonsensical.

“Annualised support staff didn’t receive more pay than they were entitled to last year and nor will they next year. Yet, somehow, reducing their pay by 3.7% for an entire year makes sense to Novopay.”

These vital school employees are already often on extremely tight budgets and this is a real kick in the teeth. Support staff have told us about reduced grocery budgets and financial stress and some are having to look at leaving jobs they enjoy. They love working with kids, but their own kids are suffering from this fiasco. They can’t cope with a $20-40 a fortnight pay drop.”

Mr Goulter says the Ministry of Education is responsible for Novopay and has an obligation to fix the injustice as soon as possible.

About 27% of support staff have their pay annualised, which means spreading 40 weeks of pay across an entire year.

“That’s the only way these employees are able to balance their budget. For those getting WINZ tops ups, regular earnings are necessary to avoid complications.”

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