July 2007

KEY POINTS:

• Your union team met with the Ministry and employers’ team on Wednesday 27 June to complete negotiations.
  
• A settlement has been reached that covers all key parts of NZEI’s claim.
  
• This newsletter has information about the settlement package. More detailed information will be sent to all worksites near the beginning of next term.
  
• The settlement is now subject to ratification by members at paid union meetings. These have been scheduled from the third week of next term.
  
• The schedule of meetings is attached to this newsletter.
  
• Your union team and the National Executive unanimously recommend that you vote in favour of the settlement at paid union meetings.

ACTION:

• Check your closest paid union meeting on the attached schedule and mark your calendar now.

 

Worksite Representatives:

• Make sure the NZEI members in your team read this newsletter.
  
• Check with any relievers in your kindergarten, who are NZEI members, that they have read this newsletter.
  
• Discuss union membership with any non-members in your kindergarten and encourage them to join. Remind them that only NZEI members can attend paid union meetings and vote on the settlement. Membership forms can be downloaded at www.nzei.org.nz

 

ENQUIRIES:

For further enquiries contact your local NZEI Te Riu Roa field staff officer/Takawaenga or email kindergarten@nzei.org.nz with questions or feedback.

The last newsletter you received was ‘07 Number 6, dated June 2007.

Dear members

Tena koutou katoa. Nga mihi nui ki a koutou.

Following 15 days of face to face negotiations, many days of team meetings and teleconferences, agreement has been reached on a settlement package for kindergarten teachers, head teachers and senior teachers.

Key Points of the Proposed Settlement

i. Pay

The Government has reconfirmed its commitment to pay parity for kindergarten teachers. The agreement has:

• A mechanism to ensure that salary increases and any additional across the board payments to primary teachers would be made to kindergarten teachers;
  
• The continuation of the mechanisms that already exist to ensure Head Teachers and Senior Teachers salaries are increased.

ii. Hours of Work Framework

A large part of negotiations has been spent discussing NZEI’s proposal on hours of work and securing entitlements for teachers in the collective agreement.

The new collective agreement includes:

• Provisions relative to 3 models of kindergartens;
  
• Maximum child contact hours for each model;
  
• Term breaks or release time during the year;
  
• Entitlements for refreshment and lunch breaks.
  
• Release time specifically for Head Teachers to focus on professional leadership

iii. Change and Consultation

The agreement contains new and expanded provisions that set out principles and processes for consultation with members and NZEI during change.

iv. Senior Teachers Travel

Changes to the agreement:

• Highlight the ability of employers to provide a vehicle for senior teachers.
  
• Provide a new flat rate for reimbursement that will benefit many senior teachers while at the same time not disadvantaging anyone.

v. Professional Leadership

There is agreement to establish a symposium, involving NZEI, the employers, the Ministry of Education and possibly the Teachers Council, to explore professional leadership in the Kindergarten sector, and ways this can be supported and enhanced.

The finally agreed hours of work provisions are substantial and will require consideration as a whole package. Your union team believes that on balance the settlement package advantages members and does much to ensure that employment rights and a high quality kindergarten service are protected during change.

All of the information about the settlement, with an explanation, will come to members in plenty of time for you to consider it with your colleagues before the paid union meetings.

Paid Union Meetings

The schedule of Paid Union Meetings is attached to this update. The meetings will be an opportunity for you to discuss, ask questions and vote on the ratification of the settlement. The vote will be decided by a simple majority of those who attend meetings. This is why it’s important you attend the meeting to have your say.

Thank you

A special thank you to members’ representatives on the negotiation team – Judith Nowotarski, Dawn Osman, Kate Couling, Julie Sullivan, Marion Dekker, Rose O’Connor, Lois Kyle, and Mary Wolken.

They have been outstanding advocates for kindergarten teachers who, along with many other members, have willingly given many hours, days, nights and weekends over a number of years to ensure security of conditions for members.

We look forward to seeing you at Paid Union Meetings.

Karen Skett and Karen Whibley
Co-Advocates

 

NZEI Kindergarten Teachers Paid Union Meetings August 2007

NZEI Kindergarten Teachers Paid Union Meetings August 2007 - click here

 

For Office Use:

NZEI Negotiations KTCA 2007/07
Page 9 of 9
To: All Kindergarten Worksites
Files: 325.69