2007 CLAIM

The last newsletter you received was ’06 Number 7 dated 18 December 2006

January 2007

KEY POINTS:

• The kindergarten claim development team met on 18 and 19 January.
• The team developed the draft claim which has now been endorsed by the Kindergarten Negotiating Team and the NZEI National Executive.
• Members are now being asked to vote on whether you endorse the claim.
• The draft claim, and a ballot paper are attached to this newsletter.
  

ACTION:

• Read this newsletter, including the claim.
• Discuss with your colleagues and within your networks
• Fill out your ballot paper and return it to NZEI, by 5pm Friday 16 February 2007
  Fax (04) 384 9401; or
  Fold and staple the form and post to the pre-printed freepost address.

Worksite Representatives:

• Make sure your team receives their copy of this newsletter with the draft claim and ballot paper
• Ask any relievers in your kindergarten, who are NZEI members, if they received a copy of this newsletter at their home address. If not, copy one for them, including a ballot paper.
• Check with your team that they have completed and returned their ballot paper by 5pm Friday 16 February.

ENQUIRIES:

For further information about this newsletter please contact your local field officer, takawaenga or Karen Skett at kindergarten@nzei.org.nz

Letter to members

Dear members

Tena koutou katoa. Nga mihi nui ki a koutou

A team of your colleagues and NZEI staff met in Wellington for two days, 17 and 18 January, to develop the draft claim for negotiations of your collective agreement.

The team received and discussed a range of information that was taken into consideration in the development of the claim. This included:

• the historical and political context;
• events over the last 18 months – negotiations, the campaign and the working party;
• the results of the votes at paid union meetings in November/December 2006; and
• the detailed feedback and comments from the questionnaires.

The claim development team had robust discussions about the issues and made some hard decisions about what issues would be given priority at these negotiations. The team agreed that there are big issues still unresolved and that these should be the focus of the negotiations this year. A concentrated effort will be needed to achieve a successful outcome.

The team and the National Executive recommend that you vote to endorse the claim.

The Issues

The last newsletter reported that members voted to reject some key aspects of the framework that were developed by the working group. (The report of the Working Group on Hours of Work can be found on the website www.nzei.org.nz).

Responses in the questionnaire clarified that members felt strongly in their rejection of two specific points:

• the proposal for a two-two-tier maximum contact time system (incorporating the use of support staff where teachers work more contact time per week); and
• the proposal to allow flexible term breaks in School Day Kindergartens (where the kindergarten could stay open full-year).

You will see that this claim reflects this position. These proposals have not been included in the claim.

The Claim

This draft claim has been endorsed by the union Negotiating Team and the NZEI National Executive. You need to vote on its endorsement so it can be formally presented to the Ministry of Education.

Please read through the claim carefully. You will see that there are some explanatory notes in boxes. These will provide the background, or reason for the claim. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact your Field Officer/Takawaenga or any of the Negotiating Team, Claim Development Team or the NZEI staff, listed in your last newsletter.

Attached to this newsletter is a ballot paper. While you may want to discuss the issues within your team or your network, each NZEI member should return an individual ballot.

Ballots must be returned to NZEI National Office by 5pm Friday 14 February 2007:

• Fax to (04) 384 9401, or
• Fold and staple the form and post to the pre-printed freepost address.

The results of the ballot will be sent to you, as soon as we can following the close-off date.

What next?

Once the claim is endorsed by members, it will be formally presented to the Ministry of Education. They will then consult with associations, prepare a response and bargaining will begin. We are unsure of the dates of negotiations at this time but we will let you know once these are confirmed.

We will send you regular information to keep you up to date with progress. There will also be up to date information on the NZEI website so keep an eye on www.nzei.org.nz

Wishing you all a positive start to the year.

Signed,

Karen Skett

Full copy of the claims

Download a full copy of the claims and issues for the negotiations of the Kindergarten Teachers, Head Teachers and Senior Teachers' Collective Agreement sent to worksites.

Ballot paper

Download a copy of the ballot paper and return it to NZEI Te Riu Roa no later than 5 pm, Friday 16 February 2007.