MP pay rise points the way for teachers

While teacher salaries have fallen well behind inflation over the last five years, MPs’ pay has kept much closer to the cost of living.

Today’s announcement by the Remuneration Authority will see MPs earning twice as much as those who teach our children, PPTA president Angela Roberts said.

“While we are pleased to see our representatives being recognised for the important work they do, it would be great to see the teaching profession receive the same support and recognition,” she said.

“Not only have teacher wages not kept up with inflation over the last five years, they have fallen around 5% behind. Teachers bore the brunt of belt-tightening during tough economic times and it’s time to make up for this.”

Back in the 1970s both teacher and MP wages were much the same, with back bench MPs earning a little less than teachers. Had teachers simply maintained parity with inflation the top teaching rate today would be $109,000, Roberts said.

“Of course we will not be asking for that much, but what we would like to see is teacher wages that enable us to catch up and keep up with inflation,” she said.

“We have seen around one third of our salary, in real terms, whittled away over the past 40 years.”

To achieve great educational goals for our young New Zealanders the government needs to value our teachers, Roberts said.

PPTA was working with the government to strengthen the teaching profession and raise its status and recognition.

The collective agreement between the government and PPTA was about investing in the educational success of students, she said.

“Teachers are hard-working and committed. Another pay cut will not serve our students well. The government has indicated that now is the right time for government employees to be getting a fair pay rise. Now is definitely the time to invest in our teachers,” she said.

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