Area teachers settle collective agreement

Area teachers have joined their colleagues in accepting the latest government offer.

The decision was put to vote and accepted late last week, with the terms of the collective offer largely based on the recent secondary teachers’ collective agreement. 

Read the Term 3 edition of School News HERE

The new agreement includes:  

• 14.5 percent increase to the top of the basic salary scale over three years
• Lump sum payments up to $7210
• Better sick leave entitlements
• Cultural leadership allowance
• Increases to Māori immersion teacher allowance
• Pay increases for day relievers
• Certification fees paid for beginning teachers.

The area schools settlement is the last agreement to be negotiated for the school sector.  

Negotiators for the NZEI Te Riu Roa Area School Teachers Collective Agreement, Lagi Leilua and Kaareen Hotereni say:  

“The increase to the Māori Immersion Teaching Allowance and the introduction of a Pasifika Bilingual Immersion Teaching Allowance are significant wins, and recognise the unique skills and expertise of kaiako and their cultural knowledge.  

“Paying teachers fairly for their skills and knowledge will have a flow-on effect of attracting more Māori and Pasifika teachers into the sector.  

“Having cultural representation at teacher level means tamariki will experience an education journey which reflects their own language and culture. 

“Another big win is the increase in non-contact time which will more than double for some teachers. Work demands on teachers were unsustainable and we’re pleased to see the Ministry recognise the positive effects this will have on tamariki. This gives teachers more time to plan, assess and give individual attention to students.” 

Additionally, introduction of pastoral care time allowance recognises teachers with counselling and cultural leadership skills and responsibilities. Acting President of the PPTA Chris Abercrombie noted this time was unaccounted for before the introduction of the clause in their new collective agreement.