Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Pay Parity for Lead Teachers in Early Childhood Ed
Pay Parity for Lead Teachers in Early Childhood Education Centres
More than 400 teachers in leadership positions in 181 early childhood education centres throughout the country are gaining pay parity with principals and deputy principals in primary schools.
The salary increases were negotiated by the teachers’ union, NZEI Te Riu Roa and the New Zealand Childcare Association/Te Tari Puna Ora o Aotearoa, the bargaining agents for the employers who run the centres. The teachers and the employers are covered by the consenting parties’ collective agreement and have voted to incorporate the pay parity increases in the collective.
“This represents another step forward in the extension of pay parity to qualified and registered teachers in the early child education sector,” says NZEI Te Riu Roa National President, Irene Cooper.
In 2002 NZEI negotiated pay parity for the country’s 1790 kindergarten teachers. Since then their salaries have been rising each year and in July they’ll reach full parity with primary and secondary teachers.
In 2004 the union negotiated an extension of pay parity to a thousand teachers working in the early childhood education centres, covered by the consenting parties’ agreement. Their salaries have also been rising in yearly installments and they’ll achieve full parity in July 2008.
Now more than 400 teachers, who have leadership position in those consenting parties’ centres, have gained pay parity with principals and deputy principals in primary schools. Their pay will begin rising in July and they will also reach parity in July 2008.
“NZEI believes all qualified and registered teachers in the early childhood education sector should have pay parity,” says Irene Cooper.
“That’s because they spend the same length of time gaining their qualification as primary and secondary teachers and job evaluations have shown that they have a comparable workload and responsibilities.”
“So it’s only fair that early childhood teachers are rewarded at the same level as their colleagues in the primary and secondary sectors,” says Irene Cooper.
ENDS
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.
University of Auckland: Tributes Flow For Much Loved Pacific Leader Melegalenu’u Ah Sam
NZEI: Ministry Of Education Cuts Will Disproportionately Affect Pasifika
Day One Hapai te Haeata: Call To Action For Young Filmmakers Against The Backdrop Of Funding Cuts
Toyota New Zealand: Three Races For Top Three To Decide TR86 Title
Wellington City Council: Wellington Is All Action Stations For The Faultline Ultra Festival
Melanie Allison: Local Playwright Casts A Spell Over Hamilton