Hon Chris Carter
Minister of Education

2 March 2008
EMBARGOED 3 MARCH 2008 Media Statement

Settlements in education a major achievement

Education Minister Chris Carter has welcomed the ratification of all the major collective employment agreements for teachers and principals in the education sector.

“The ratification of these claims is extremely good news,” Chris Carter said.

“The Labour-led government recognises the enormous importance of teachers and school leaders in ensuring our young people contribute to the wellbeing and prosperity of New Zealand.

“These major settlements are a major achievement by everyone involved to ensure 2008 gets off to a positive and settled start.”

Secondary teachers ratified their collective agreement last year, and in February primary teachers and principals, area school principals and teachers and support staff followed suit.

“2008 will be a big year for education but we can move forward knowing that all teachers and principals have pay and conditions they are happy with,” Chris Carter said.

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Details of recent settlements with NZEI

Key elements of the Primary Teachers’ Collective Agreement

Remuneration
* Base scale salary increase of four percent from 30 November 2007, four percent from 2 July 2008 and four percent from 1 July 2009.
* Unit rate increase from $3,500 to $3,650 from 4 July 2007, $3,800 from 2 July 2008 and $4,000 from 1 July 2009.
* Lump sum payment of $750 gross for union members.
Additional units
* An additional 10,000 salary units will be phased in as follows:
2009: 5,000 additional units
2010: 5,000 additional units.
Career Pathways
* Continuation of development of career pathways and qualifications within the primary education sector.
Other Benefits and Allowances
* Introduce a Tutor Teacher Allowance of $1,000 for teachers responsible for mentoring year one beginning teachers who are employed as a part-time employee.
* Introduce a Sign Language Allowance equivalent to one salary unit per annum for those teachers required to hold a post-graduate qualification as part of their employment position.
* He Tohu Mātauranga: agreement on a qualification to enable progression to step 14 on the salary scale.
* Introduction of Paid Sabbatical Leave from 2009.

Key elements of the Area School Principals' Collective Agreement

Remuneration
* Increases to base salary and staffing based salary component by four percent effective from 30 November 2007, a further four percent from 2 July 2008 and another four percent from 1 July 2009.
* Increase the decile payment by four percent effective 28 January 2008, a further four percent from 28 January 2009, and another four percent from 28 January 2010.
* A one-off adjustment of $2,000 to base of U1 grade.
* Lump sum payment of $1,000 for union members.

Professional Leadership
* Introduce a new Area School Principals' Payment from 28 January 2008 for principals in grades U2 and above in acknowledgement of the complex role of the area school principal as educational and professional leader across all years of the curriculum. The per annum payment is $2,000 base and $40 per full-time teacher equivalent (based on entitlement staffing), increasing to $45 from 28 January 2009, up to a maximum total payment of $4500.
* First Time Principals: from 2008 first time principals employed in U1 and U2 grade primary schools shall receive 10 days development release time over an 18 month period to be used for professional learning.

Other
* Increase of $1,000 per annum to the experience payment from October 2008.
* Increase the period of salary protection when changes to school grade and decile occur.

Key elements of the Area School Teachers’ Collective Agreement

Remuneration
* Base scale salary increase of four percent effective from 30 November 2007, four percent from 2 July 2008 and four percent from 1 July 2009.
* Unit rate increase from $3,500 to $3,650 from 4 July 2007, $3,800 from 2 July 2008 and $4,000 from 1July 2009.
* Lump sum payment of $750 to union members.

Effective Teaching – Strong Professional Leadership
* Specialist Teachers: from the start of Term 3, 2008, each area school shall be entitled to appoint a permanent teacher as a Specialist Teacher.
* Professional Learning Days: from 2009, schools deemed isolated shall have funding for three professional learning days per annum.
* Study Support Grants: from the beginning of the 2009 school year, 12 area school study support grants shall be available nationally to fully registered permanent area school teachers.

Additional units
* An additional 400 salary units will be phased in as follows:
2009: 200 additional units
2010: 200 additional units.

Work/Life Balance
* Medical Retirement: the 2006/07 variation will be included as a permanent provision.
* Kapa Haka: access to the secondary entitlement of 100 teacher relief days in the STCA for the organisers of the national biennial Kapa Haka contest from 2008.
* Leave to attend birth: from 28 January 2008, permanently appointed teachers will be granted two days paid leave to attend to their partner at the birth of their child.

Other Benefits and Allowances
* Introduce a Tutor Teacher Allowance of $1000 for teachers responsible for mentoring year one beginning teachers who are employed as a part-time employee.
* He Tohu Mātauranga: agreement on a qualification to enable progression to step 14 on the salary scale.
* Increase the Career Advisors Allowance.
* Increase the Overseas Teacher Time Allowance.
* Increase the service increment.

Key elements of the Support Staff in Schools Collective Agreement and Kaiarahi i Te Reo, Therapists, ATSSD and Special Education Assistants Collective Agreement

Remuneration
* For all employees bound by these two agreements (excluding therapists), a four percent increase in printed rates, effective from 2 January 2008 and a further two percent increase in printed rates, effective from 14 January 2009
* The Printed rates for therapists in the KRCA will increase by:
- Three percent from 2 January 2008; and
- Two percent from 14 January 2009.
- Therapists will translate to a new pay scale on 2 January 2008.

Work programmes
* A work programme has been established to investigate options for an alternative support staff remuneration structure. A report will go to the Minister by 1 September 2008 outlining options for his consideration.
* Another work programme will explore issues relating to the role and expectations of Kaiarahi i Te Reo.

ENDS

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