Circular 2011/18 - Secondary and area school groundstaff collective agreement

Please note

Union members will receive the increased rates on 7 September 2011 (pay period 2412) and not on 10 September 2011 (pay period 2411) as stated in the printed circular sent to schools recently.

Date 2 August 2011 | Number 2011/18 | Category Industrial Relations

Overview

This circular is about the details of the recent settlement of the Secondary and Area School Groundstaff Collective Agreement and information on Individual Employment Agreements.

This circular does not replace any other circular.

The action needed is to note the contents of this circular and complete the requirements concerning Individual Employment Agreements applicable.

It is intended for chairpersons of boards of trustees and principals of secondary and area state and state-integrated schools or attached community learning centres.

For more information email the Industrial Relations Unit, industrial.relations@minedu.govt.nz.

All agreements are available on this website.

Introduction

The Secondary and Area Groundstaff Collective Agreement 2011-2013 was settled on 14 July 2011 and ratified by members of the Amalgamated Workers Union New Zealand Southern Incorporated, the Northern Amalgamated Workers Union Inc, and the Central Amalgamated Workers Union Inc (AWU) on 14 July 2011. The collective agreement was signed by the parties on 29 July 2011 and expires on 30 August 2013 (a term of 25 months).

This circular provides a summary of the changes and new provisions. Printed copies will be available from the New Zealand School Trustees Association (NZSTA).

Individual Employment Agreements for Secondary and Area School Groundstaff

Groundstaff who are not union members may be offered the newly promulgated IEA to access the applicable terms and conditions of the Secondary and Area School Groundstaff Collective Agreement 2011-2013. Individual Employment Agreements (IEAs) are only effective from the date of signing and cannot be effective before the date they are promulgated by the Secretary for Education. This means that an IEA cannot be backdated prior to the employer and the employee signing a promulgated IEA.

Therefore if you are intending to offer the new terms and conditions to groundstaff who are on IEAs and not incur any delays it is recommended that you provide them with information on the terms of settlement and offer the new promulgated IEA at the earliest opportunity. This may also involve consideration of local variations which are dealt with later in this circular.

The promulgated IEA is available on this website. Any questions about the process and appropriate use of IEAs should be directed to the Industrial Relations Unit, email industrial.relations@minedu.govt.nz or your NZSTA industrial advisor.

Key features of the settlement

1. Term (clause 1.3)

A term of 25 months from 1 August 2011 to 30 August 2013.

2. Remuneration (clause 3.2)

The minimum rates for groundstaff will be increased by 1.25% as of 1 August 2011, with further increases of 1% at 28 January 2012 and 1% at 1 August 2012.

This increase will paid to all union members on 7 September 2011 (pay period 2412).

New minimum wages shall be:

There is no change of any allowances.

The full collective agreement is available on this website.

School based variations

The ratification of the collective agreement provides a timely opportunity for boards to review employee’s files (including any school level variations) to ensure they are consistent with the terms and conditions of the new collective agreement and to update these where necessary.

It is important that boards and principals understand and adhere to the terms and conditions of the school based variations as outlined in clause 1.4.2 of the collective agreement:

1. Is there a school level variation in place for that individual?
2. Has the variation been agreed in writing and signed by the employee, employer and a representative of the union?
3. If the variation has been made verbally can this variation now be recorded in writing, and signed by the employer, employee and a representative of the union?
4. Does the variation clearly specify the individual elements of an employee’s remuneration package, if not what would these elements be?

Please note: a template for a school based variation agreement is now available on the NZSTA website.

In the event a board has concerns and/or questions regarding its employment arrangements with individual employees, the board should contact the NZSTA or its own employment adviser.

Issued by

Sarah Borrell, Manager Industrial Relations
Ministry of Education, National Office, 45–47 Pipitea Street, Thorndon, P O Box 1666, Wellington, New Zealand

Phone 04-463 8000, Fax 04-463 8001
Email industrial.relations@minedu.govt.nz