Ministry disappointed at NZEI rejection of second revised offers to settle collective agreements

The Ministry of Education is disappointed NZEI Te Riu Roa has rejected its revised offers to settle principals’ and teachers’ collective agreements.

The Ministry will continue to work closely with the NZEI Te Riu Roa to discuss its feedback to the details of the package which delivers increases of 9.3% over three years and which is valued at $569 million over four years.

The Executive of the NZEI has announced that members have voted to reject the Ministry’s offers to settle.

It is also disappointing because outside the bargaining process, the Ministry is actively addressing the concerns teachers are raising about their working conditions.

Budget 2018 includes $20m over four years to increase teacher supply, $370 million for 1500 new teacher places by 2021 to meet population growth and $59 million for teacher aides. The Ministry is monitoring demand and supply and will consider new initiatives if required.

This includes removing National Standards because teachers have said for a long time it significantly contributed to their workload.

Primary teacher retention rates remain high at over 90 per cent. We are also working with teachers on planning for a long term education workforce strategy to better meet the needs of schools.

Budget 18 provided an extra $270 million for learning support and last Friday Associate Education Minister Tracey Martin released a Disability and Learning Support Action Plan for consultation.

Please attribute to Iona Holsted Secretary of Education

ENDS

Note to editors:

In early September 2018, the Ministry of Education presented NZEI with a new offer which would see the principal of a school of fewer than 50 students increase their roll-based salary component from $81,553 to $92,976 by 2020. In addition, they receive a $2,320 leadership payment.

Teachers at the top of the scale would earn $82,992 a year by 2020.

50% of teachers also receive at least one unit, a $4,000 additional payment on top of their salary rates in recognition of management, leadership and other responsibilities.

New teachers who currently start on $47,980 will increase to $50,902 from mid next year increasing to $52,429 in 2020.

The new offer for teachers responds to the union’s concerns the first offer was too heavily weighted towards new teachers and increases the quantum.

Principals will receive a cumulative increase of between 9.3 and 14 percent over the next three years. That is made up of increases of between 3 and 4.5 percent each year over the next three years to the roll based component of their salary.

It provides a cumulative increase of 9.3 percent over three years; to teachers a 3 percent increase for all teachers each year, over the next three years.

The first increase will take effect when the collective agreement is settled, the second increase 12 months later and the third 24 months later.

The cost of the Ministry’s offer for teachers and Principals is $569 million over four years.

The Government has removed National Standards in response to teachers’ claims it was a large driver of workload

A joint taskforce has been set up to identify the compliance-related administrative tasks that can be reduced or eliminated to free up time for principals and teachers. Agreement has already been reached and a well-being strategy and plans to implement it are being developed.

The NZEI and the Ministry are currently engaged in a pay equity inquiry for teacher aides.

Budget 2018 has already provided more than $270 million in additional funding for learning support. On top of that Associate Education Minister Tracey Martin has announced a Disability and Learning Support Action Plan for consultation. The Action Plan includes a range of priority actions to identify and respond to learning needs earlier, and looks at the need for additional staff.

Primary Principals and teachers collective agreement bargaining fact sheet (as at 11 September 2018) is available here:

http://www.education.govt.nz/news/ministry-presents-nzei-with-new-offer/

Information on existing pay scales, allowances, benefits and other entitlements for secondary teachers is available here:

http://www.education.govt.nz/ministry-of-education/media-centre/statistics-on-principals-and-teachers-salaries/

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