Primary teachers

Primary teachers represented by NZEI announced they had accepted their fourth collective offer yesterday.

It saw pay for starter teachers increase 18.3% (up from $51,358 to $60,735 by December next year) and experienced teachers up to 11% (the top of the scale moving from $90,000 to $100,000 at the end of 2024).

Other details of the offer included an increase in teacher classroom release time for the term, going from 10 hours to 25 hours, a lump sum payment and additional payment for union members, a pay increase in July and further increases in July and December 2024, plus a mileage allowance.

There will also be a significant increase in the Māori Immersion Teacher Allowance and the introduction of the Pasifika Bilingual Immersion Teaching Allowance.

Area school teachers

Despite accepting the offer, area school teachers represented by NZEI will also have to wait until the PPTA (Post Primary Teacher’s Association) Te Wehengarua accept as theirs is joint collective agreement.

Primary and area school principals

Both primary and area school principals are waiting to receive a new offer, though the work ban has been temporarily suspended.

NZEI is seeking to talk with the minister next week. Principals represented by the Primary Principals Collective Bargaining Union, about 15% of all primary principals, settled with the ministry in April.

Kindergarten

Kindergarten teachers voted to accept their latest offer in May.

It included pay increases between 11.1% and 13.9% for union members and the top pay bracket will rise from $90,000 to $100,000 by December 2024. It also increased sick leave allowance to 15 days, introduced a cultural allowance for kaiako Māori and provided more head teacher professional time.