Circular 2007/5

Date: 13 April 2007
Circular Number: 2007/5
Category: Industrial Relations

New Collective Agreements: Support Staff; Kaiarahi i te Reo etc; Caretakers and Cleaners; and Secondary and Area School Groundstaff

This circular is about: Details from the ratified Support Staff in Schools' Collective Agreement; the Kaiarahi i te Reo, Therapists, ATSSD and Special Education Assistants' Collective Agreement; the School Caretakers and Cleaners' (including Canteen Workers) Collective Agreement; and the Secondary and Area School Groundstaff Collective Agreement.


The action required is: Note information and various actions required.


It is intended for: Chairpersons of Boards of Trustees and principals of all state and state integrated schools.


For further information: Contact the Industrial Relations Unit by email: industrial.relations@minedu.govt.nz. All agreements are available on the Ministry's website: www.minedu.govt.nz/goto/employmentagreements

The NZ School Trustees Association (NZSTA) will provide further information.

Introduction

This circular provides advice on changes arising from recent settlements and ratifications of the Support Staff in Schools' Collective Agreement 2006-2007; the Kaiarahi i te Reo, Therapists, Assistants to Teachers of Students with Severe Disabilities (ATSSD) and Special Education Assistants' Collective Agreement 2006-2007; the School Caretakers and Cleaners' (including Canteen Workers) Collective Agreement 2006-2007; and the Secondary and Area School Groundstaff Collective Agreement 2006-2007.
 

Support Staff in Schools' and Kaiarahi i te Reo et al Collective Agreements

The NZEI Te Riu Roa (NZEI) and Service and Food Workers Union (SFWU) formally advised the Ministry of Education on 6 March 2007 that the Support Staff in Schools Collective Agreement (SSCA) and the Kaiarahi i te Reo, Therapists, ATSSD, and Special Education Assistants' Collective Agreement (KRCA) settlements reached on 9 February 2007 had been ratified. These agreements came into effect on 2 September 2006 and will expire on 1 September 2007.

The key elements of these settlements are listed below and are applicable to both agreements unless otherwise indicated.
 

• A 3.0% increase on printed wage and salary rates effective from 3 January 2007;
• A term from 2 September 2006 to 1 September 2007;
• A new pay scale for therapists covered by the KRCA;
• Enhanced annual leave entitlements for employees with 5 years service (4.6 weeks annual leave from January 2008) and for employees with 10 years service (5 weeks annual leave but inclusive of the day after Easter Monday and the day after Boxing Day (where applicable), from 2010);
• The introduction of an optional system of annualisation of wages for permanent support staff, covered by the SSCA, who are employed for less than 52 weeks per year;
• Agreement to continue the long term work programme, focusing on: wage scale structures, grading definitions, mechanisms for recognition of qualifications, pay progression for part-time employees and a number of issues related to therapists employed by boards of trustees;
• Agreement between NZEI Te Riu Roa and the NZSTA to develop joint good practice guidelines on a number of matters including professional development leave, lifting (manual handling) and recognition of service;
• Agreement between NZEI Te Riu Roa and the NZSTA to jointly investigate the issues of teacher aide involvement in IEP meetings and motor vehicle insurance;
• A number of technical changes to clauses contained in the collective agreements required by legislation and/or to clarify entitlements.

 
The new terms and conditions apply automatically to NZEI and SFWU members whose work is covered by the applicable collective agreement. The implementation of new rates of pay for union members covered by the SSCA and the KRCA and who are paid at the rates as specified in the collective agreement occurred on 28 March 2007. Where the employee is paid above the old rate and below the new rate, they will be paid at the new rate. Where the board wishes to pay above the new rates, payroll must be advised.
 

School Caretakers and Cleaners' (including Canteen Workers) Collective Agreement; and the Secondary and Area School Groundstaff Collective Agreement

The School Caretakers and Cleaners' (including Canteen Workers) Collective Agreement (SCCCA) was ratified by members on 19 March 2007 and the Secondary and Area School Groundstaff Collective Agreement was ratified by members on 30 March 2007. The key elements of the settlements are as follows:

• A 3.0% increase on printed wage and salary rates effective from 3 January 2007;
• A term from 1 October 2006 to 30 September 2007 for the SCCCA;
• A term from 1 November 2006 to 31 October 2007 for the Groundstaff CA;
• Enhanced annual leave entitlements for employees with 5 years service (4.6 weeks annual leave from January 2008) and for employees with ten years service (5 weeks annual leave from 2010. This also includes the day after Easter Monday).

 
   The new terms and conditions apply automatically to SFWU (SCCCA) and the Amalgamated Workers' Union (Groundstaff CA) members whose work is covered by the applicable collective agreement. The implementation of new rates of pay for caretakers and cleaners on printed rates in the collective agreement occurred on 28 March 2007 and it is anticipated that groundstaff will be paid early May.

Individual Employment Agreements

New individual employment agreements (IEAs) based on the terms and conditions of the recently settled SSCA, KRCA, SCCCA and the Groundstaff collective agreement were promulgated in March 2007 and can be downloaded from the Ministry's website. Existing employees who are not union members will be entitled to receive the new wage increases from the date they sign the new IEAs.

The Employment Relations Act 2000 states that new employees are entitled to be employed on an IEA based on the applicable collective agreement for the first 30 days of employment, after which they can choose to remain on an IEA or join the applicable union and become a party to the collective agreement. If they choose to join the union they will be entitled to the new rates from the date they join. If they choose to remain on an IEA they will need to sign the newly promulgated IEA to receive the new rates.

A template letter of appointment for these employees can be downloaded from the NZ School Trustees Association (NZSTA) website on www.nzsta.org.nz or alternatively further information can be sought from regional NZSTA advisers.
 

ISSUED BY
Name: Chris Collins
Title: Senior Manager, Industrial Relations Unit

National Office
45 - 47 Pipitea Street, Thorndon
P O Box 1666, Wellington, New Zealand
Phone: 0-4-463 8000
Fax: 0-4-463 8001