MR 2009/33 - Babies’ sleep and wellbeing the loser in Government decision

The Government’s decision yesterday to axe a proposed requirement for all-day ECE centres to have separate sleep rooms for babies has been condemned by NZEI Te Riu Roa, the union representing early childhood teachers.

  Media Release 2009/33 (0.1mb pdf)

MR 2009/32 - Voice of low paid education workers rings out at pay equity rally

The voice of low paid school support staff was heard loud and clear at today’s pay equity rally at parliament.

  Media Release 2009/32 (0.1mb pdf)

  Speech to pay equity rally (0.1mb pdf)

Support Staff Negotiations Update 2009/03

Support Staff day on 10 June was a great success. Congratulations to the winners of the Fair Deal competition. Your union team is getting great support from members and is working hard to get a fair deal for members. The presentation of the Pay and Employment petitions to Sue Moroney (Labour MP) is set for Thursday 23rd July.

  Support Staff Negotiations News 2009/03 (0.2mb pdf)

Pay Equity rally means business for Wellington retailers

Wellington businesses are showing their support for women's pay equity by offering a discount - for women only - to coincide with the Pay Equity rally at Parliament on Tuesday 30 June. Because women are paid around 12 per cent less than men the businesses are all offering a 12 per cent discount to women for anything from clothes to coffee on the day.

Women will be able to buy discounted wine, flowers, hair products and books as well with Andrea Moore, Unity Books, Hair Essentials, Flowers on Featherston, Frutti clothing, Wineseeker, cafés Neo, Deluxe and Midnight Espresso, and Parliament's very own watering hole the Backbencher all joining in to compensate women for the earnings gap.

Source: www.union.org.nz

MR 2009/31 - Anger over national standards consultation

NZEI is calling on the government to push out the timeframe for the implementation of national standards and says schools will actively oppose any centralised reporting.

  Media Release 2009/31 (0.1mb pdf)

MR 2009/30 - Innovation in early childhood education under threat

The government’s Budget cuts to professional development programmes will undo years of work and undermine quality education for our youngest children.

  Media Release 2009/30 (0.1mb pdf)

Te Reo Māori in English-medium Schools

Curriculum Guidelines for Teaching and Learning Te Reo Māori in English-medium Schools are now available and have been sent out to all schools. There are a range of resources available online, to support the use of the document, which can be accessed via the url below.

Check these out and also watch out for further information on professional development opportunities relating to these Guidelines. Further copies are available on request from the MoE phone 0800 660 662 or email orders@thechair.minedu.govt.nz quote item number 33273.

  Curriculum guidelines for Te Reo Māori in English medium schools (www.tereomaori.tki.org.nz)

NZEI Swine Flu Advice

A number of schools and centres have been closed due to the swine flu, with more closures likely. At this stage of the outbreak, there is no official requirement for staff without symptoms not to come to school.

• If you have no symptoms but you are advised by your health professional, board of trustees or principal to go into isolation and you choose to do this – then this will count as taking sick leave.

• However, if you have no symptoms but your school or centre directs you to stay home, then you must be paid as normal, and any associated costs are borne by the employer.

• If the situation becomes more serious, it is likely things will change – keep informed by checking the Ministry of Health website and the Ministry of Education website (updated daily), or contact the Ministry of Education swine flu call centre, 0800 225 580, if you have a specific situation to report, or call NZEI Help on 0800 693 443.
  

  Ministry of Education (Swine Flu) (www.minedu.govt.nz)

  Ministry of Health (Swine Flu) (www.moh.govt.nz)

Celebrate July 1

From 1 July 2009, NZEI teacher and principal members get a 4% salary increase.

  Download the poster for your worksite (0.6mb pdf)

Join the Pay Equity Challenge - 12:30 Tues 30 June

NZEI members won pay parity for primary and early childhood teachers after many years of campaigning.  But the pay gap in the education sector still exists! Please support pay equity for school support staff, GSE support workers and other low-paid women workers by joining us on June 30th.

Join the Pay Equity Challenge - help stop the Government short-changing women.

A demonstration will be held at Parliament at 12:30 on Tuesday 30 June.
(NZEI group to meet at 12.20pm at the Centotaph)


  Join the Pay Equity Challenge (www.union.org.nz/payequity)