NO EDUCATION PAY TRADE-OFFS - NZEI

This is a media release NZEI has just put out after a front page NZ Herald piece (see http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=1... which incorrectly suggests the CTU or NZEI might be receptive to some kind of pay cut for teachers in exchange for funding for support staff.

NO EDUCATION PAY TRADE OFF

Comments by the Prime Minister that school support staff could have a pay rise if teachers were prepared to forego an increase are insulting, says the education sector union NZEI Te Riu Roa.

John Key made the suggestion at the Council of Trade Union conference when asked why support staff are essentially being offered a zero percent pay increase.

NZEI says there is no way the union would entertain any such trade-off.

School support staff work at the frontline of education and many earn only just above the minimum wage. NZEI says their fight for better pay is based on the value of the work they do and the improvements they make to children’s learning.

NZEI National Secretary Paul Goulter says it’s ironic that this government, which claims that raising student achievement is a priority, continues to fail to recognise that.

“School support staff deserve a pay increase because of what they do and what they’re worth. Mr Key’s flippant suggestions of a robbing Peter to pay Paul type trade-off between teachers and support staff is offensive to everyone.

“The government needs to address the underfunding of already low paid support staff and not try and play two groups off against each other,” says Mr Goulter.