MAY 31, 2004

Nzei Teachers And Principals Endorse Pay Claims

Teachers and principals who work in primary, intermediate and areas schools have voted to endorse a pay claims package that their union, NZEI Te Riu Roa, will present to the Ministry of Education next week.

NZEI and the Ministry are due to begin negotiating the package in early July.

“The vote to endorse the claims was overwhelming,” says NZEI Te Riu Roa, National President, Colin Tarr.

“In the last three weeks more than 18,000 NZEI teachers and principals have attended 177 paid union meetings held to discuss the claims. 99% of them voted to endorse the claims.”

“It was clear from the meetings that the major issues NZEI teachers and principals are concerned about are their workload, their pay, and the unfair and educationally unsound way their qualifications are treated on the pay scale that their share with secondary teachers.”

“These issues are all addressed in the claims package.”

“NZEI teachers and principals made it clear at the meetings that they fully support these claims and are ready to take a stand to back them up. They have begun a campaign of lobbying in support of the claims,” says Colin Tarr.

These are NZEI’s major claims: A 6% pay increase for primary sector teachers. A new pay scale for primary sector principals that would incorporate a 6% pay rise and include steps that delivered yearly pay rises.

Extra staffing resources to provide teachers with non contact time to carry out work such as planning and assessment. Pay adjustments that fairly reward teachers for their qualifications and experience.

Changing the salary unit allocation formula for primary and area schools to bring it into line with secondary schools. Units are annual payments made to teachers for carrying out extra responsibilities.

ENDS

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NZEI Te Riu Roa

New Zealand Educational Institute

NZEI Te Riu Roa members work in every community in New Zealand, leading and advocating for quality public education.

We are the 50,000 principals, teachers and support staff who work in primary, area and secondary schools as well as early childhood centres, special education and school advisory services. We come together as NZEI Te Riu Roa - New Zealand's largest education union, a Treaty based organisation and a powerful advocate for quality public education.

We have the most important job in New Zealand - educating for the future.

CONTACT NZEI TE RIU ROA

• Website - www.nzei.org.nz
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• Media Contact - media@nzei.org.nz
• Support - Stand Up For Kids

• Email - nzei@nzei.org.nz
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• Phone - 04 382 2703
• Support - Best Start