Secondary teachers have overwhelmingly ratified the settlement of a new collective agreement.
PPTA Te Wehengarua acting president Chris Abercrombie says there are still issues with secondary teacher recruitment that need to be addressed, "but today is for celebrating".
"I feel very proud and privileged to lead such a strong and committed union. Members are passionate about secondary education and the need for it to be valued appropriately. This settlement is a significant step in the right direction.
"Secondary teachers can now get on with the vital business of teaching and learning in a settled environment - something they have been wanting to do for a long time."
Last week, the government accepted an arbitration panel's recommendation to increase secondary teacher pay by about 14.5 percent.
The change adds $680 million to the $3.76 billion set aside by the government for settling teacher and principal pay agreements, coming out of current education budget savings and the 2024 cost pressure allowance.
Photo: RNZ.
The news is welcomed by Education Minister Jan Tinetti, who says it means beginning teachers will get nearly $10,000 a year more on top of a $7210 lump sum payment.
“Experienced secondary teachers on the top scale will receive an increase of over $13,000, to their base pay and by the end of next year will earn $103,00 before allowances.
“As a result of this settlement 67 per cent of secondary teachers in New Zealand will earn a base salary of more than $100,000 a year, making teaching the well-paid job it should be.
“These increases recognise the great work that secondary teachers do, day in and day out, with their students and their whānau, and in their communities.
“To deliver high quality teaching, we need to attract and retain highly skilled teachers. These increases will help attract, and keep, the teachers we need.
“The settlement also means an end to the disrupted learning that our young people have experienced. I know that will come as great news to parents and caregivers and thank them for their patience throughout.
“The settlement also means an end to the disrupted learning that our young people have experienced. I know that will come as great news to parents and caregivers and thank them for their patience throughout.
“In the end, Cabinet agreed to support a settlement that was fair and responsible. I am so delighted that we were all able to agree a deal for all our secondary teachers and their students.
“I thank the Arbitration Panel, the PPTA and the Ministry of Education, whose hard work has finally brought about a settlement."
- Additional reporting by RNZ.
2 comments
Typical
Posted on 09-08-2023 17:21 | By Potofstu
Because they know national will get in . So take the pressure off a limp labour government and the unions
Dangerous stupidity
Posted on 09-08-2023 20:59 | By Let's get real
I have already heard from another professional who is judging their earnings against those of teachers. Is a three year degree course seen to hold greater value than a five or seven year degree...? The teachers union has carefully constructed a situation where the government was backed into a corner in the lead-up to an election. We are extremely lucky that our police officers have never resorted to industrial action, because then we would really understand who is vital for the community. Staff turnover is enormous in other organisations, but not so much for teachers. Maybe working in a classroom for six hours or so a day, having every weekend off and twelve weeks holiday a year on a salary is much harder than working a twelve to fourteen hour day, five or six days a week.
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