Negotiations on Claim for New Career Structure

Primary Teachers Begin Negotiations on Claim for New Career Structure

Primary teachers' representatives will begin formal negotiations with the Ministry of Education today (Tuesday August 7th) over a pay and employment claim that includes funding of a new career structure that would encourage and reward experienced teachers to stay in the classroom.

Around 25,000 teachers in 2000 primary and intermediate schools across New Zealand will be represented by their union, NZEI Te Riu Roa, in the talks to to renew their collective employment agreement.

The proposed career pathway, developed by NZEI, the Ministry of Education and the School Trustees Association, is designed to address the loss of many good teachers after five years in the job, coupled with what many regard as excessive workload. Teachers leave because of the perceived lack of career opportunities in primary teaching and the capping of salaries of experienced teachers who choose not to move into management.

NZEI's claim aims to support the introduction of the new career pathway by proposing enhanced pay for new senior teacher roles, providing additional time for teachers to do their work, ensuring support is available for new teachers and promoting a nationally consistent career path.

Another key claim being discussed on is a proposed 4% pay increase in basic pay for primary teachers backdated to July 1 this year, with a further 4% in each of the next two subsequent years.

ENDS

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