A message from Barb Curran to All PTCA members
Following the strong rejection by primary teachers of the first offer for the settlement of the Primary Teachers’ Collective Agreement at recent paid union meetings, your negotiation team met urgently last week with the Ministry of Education.
Your clear and unequivocal action has led to the Ministry tabling a second, improved offer. Pay and release time have improved in this second offer, and the offer includes a union member advantage. The offer on other claims remains as it was in the first offer.
The Second Offer
Pay
- $4000 increase to trained teacher salaries from 1 Dec 2022.
- A further 3%, or $2000 (whichever is the highest) increase to salaries on 1 Dec 2023. This would mean an increase greater than $2000 for teachers on Step 6 and above in year 2 (the percentage increase was not included in the first offer).
- A one-off payment of $750 (pro-rata) for anyone who is a member of NZEI Te Riu Roa on 3 March 2023.
- A one-off payment of $500 (pro-rata) for all teachers on 1 Dec 2023.
Release time
Increase release time for classroom teachers by
- 5 hours per term from term 3 2023,
- A further 5 hours per term from term 1 2024,
- And a further 5 hours per term from term 3 2024.
- The equivalent of 1 hour of release time per week (10 hours per term) for all permanent unit holders from term 3 2024.
Union member advantage
- The first lump sum of $750 will be for union members only.
All other elements of the offer are the same. Find the offer documents below.
Where to now?
The negotiation team are clear that any possibility of a further improved offer could only be achieved through action.
We will hold paid union meetings between 27 Feb and 3 Mar 2023 to discuss this offer.
Holding meetings in February will give us time to consider the offer. It will also help build parent and whānau understanding and support around the issues of class size and learning support that we urgently need the Government to address.
If the offer is accepted, the pay increase will be retrospective to December this year so there is no disadvantage in waiting to vote.
If the offer is rejected it is likely we will hold a strike vote very shortly after the Paid Union Meetings have concluded.
If you have any questions about the offer or the process going forward, online sessions are being held by the negotiation team this Tuesday and Wednesday at 4pm.
Ngā mihi nui,
Barb Curran
On behalf of the PTCA bargaining team