Part 3 – Remuneration

3.1 Definitions

3.1.1 Groundstaff Employee means an employee of an Area, Secondary, or Form 1-7 School who predominantly performs work associated with the care, maintenance and upkeep of school grounds, including sports fields, gardens and other outdoor facilities.  The work may be performed at more than one school.  A groundstaff employee shall not include a caretaker or cleaner as defined in the current School Caretakers’ and Cleaners’ (including Canteen Workers) Collective Employment Agreement or an administrative employee responsible for maintenance and property administration as described in the current Support Staff in Schools’ Collective Agreement.

3.1.2 A Senior Groundskeeper is a groundstaff employee who is either:

(i) in charge of one or more permanent groundstaff; or

(ii) a sole charge groundskeeper (see 3.1.3 below) who is appointed by the employer to be a Senior Groundskeeper as a result of either:

(a) being required and able to perform job-related maintenance work of a significant nature which he/she is legally able to undertake and which would normally be undertaken by a registered or qualified tradesperson; or

(b) being required and competent to perform duties to a high level of skill, expertise and responsibility.

3.1.3 A Groundskeeper is a sole charge groundstaff employee responsible for groundskeeping duties or an assistant groundskeeper so designated by the employer in recognition of his/her skills, performance and abilities.

3.1.4 An Assistant Groundskeeper is a groundstaff employee, working under a Senior Groundskeeper, who by reason of knowledge and experience, can be relied upon to carry out efficiently, various classes of groundskeeping duties requiring almost as much technical knowledge and skill as a groundskeeper.

3.1.5 A Ground’s Labourer is a groundstaff employee whose duties do not require any considerable degree of judgement, responsibility, knowledge or experience.  Progression shall be at the discretion of the Board and subject to a requirement for, and ability to perform, the role of an Assistant Groundskeeper.

3.1.6 It is not the intention of the parties that any employee should be assigned a lower grade as a result of the coming into force of this agreement.

3.2 Wages

3.2.1 Minimum weekly wage rates for full-time groundstaff are as follows:

3.2.2 A part-time employee is engaged for less than 40 hours per week and shall be paid 1/40 of the appropriate full-time weekly rate for each ordinary hour of employment.

3.2.3 Any groundstaff employee directed to perform work for which a higher rate is prescribed shall be paid the higher rate for the period of such work.  Nothing shall prevent an employer from authorising payment of a special duties allowance to an employee directed in special circumstances, to carry out duties other than those for which he/she was employed.

3.3 Service Allowance

3.3.1 Service allowance shall be paid at the appropriate rate specified below for all hours worked:

• At the completion of three years continuous employment in the State Education Service – 15 cents per hour

• At the completion of five years continuous employment in the State Education Service – 26 cents per hour.

3.4 Recognised Qualifications

3.4.1 A groundstaff employee holding a qualification listed under 3.4.4 below shall be paid at the appropriate group rate below, pro-rated for part-time employees.

(a) Group One - $9.62 per week

(b) Group Two - $14.43 per week

(c) Group Three - $19.24 per week.

3.4.2 Only one allowance shall be paid which shall be for the highest qualification held by the employee.  Upon obtaining a higher recognised qualification the employee shall become eligible for the higher payment.

3.4.3 The list reflects qualifications deemed relevant to work in relation to school grounds.  In general terms Group One reflects qualifications registered on the NZ Qualifications Framework at Levels 4-5 (with some recognition at Level 3) and those agreed to be of an equivalent level.  Group Two reflects qualifications registered on the NZQF at Level 6 and Group Three at levels 7 and 8, including in both cases other relevant qualifications agreed to be of an equivalent level.  In identifying and establishing the grade of qualifications the parties have been assisted by the NZ Horticulture and the NZ Sports Turf Industry Training Organisations.

3.4.4 (a) Group One qualifications:*

• The National Certificate in Sports Turf (Introduction to Turf Care) (L3)
• National Certificate in Sports Turf Management (L4)
• National Certificate in Horticulture (L3 or L4)
• Trade Certificate in Horticulture and Gardening (L4E)
• Trade Certificate in Horticulture and Amenity Turf Management (L4E)
• Trade Certificate in Golf Course Greenkeeping (L4E)
• Diploma in Turf Culture (L4E)
• NZ Superintendent’s Certificate (NZ Golf Course Superintendent’s Assc) (L4E)
• Advanced Trade Certificate in Horticulture/Greenkeeping (L5E)

(b) Group Two qualifications:

•   National Diploma in Sports Turf Management (L6)
•   National Diploma in Horticulture (L6)
•   Diploma in Horticulture (Massey, Lincoln) (L6)
•   Certificate in Horticulture (Massey) (L6)

(c) Group Three qualifications:

• National Diploma in Sports Turf Management (L7)
• Diploma of Rural Studies (L7)
• Bachelor or Master’s Degree in Horticulture or Horticultural Sciences
• Bachelor or Master’s Degree in Science or Applied Science

*L = level on the NZQF

*E = assessed equivalent to the designed level on the NZQF

3.5 Other Allowances

3.5.1 A worker required to work six metres above the ground shall be paid $1.74 for each day this occurs.

3.5.2 A groundstaff employee who is solely responsible for the complete operation, chlorination and maintenance of school swimming pools shall be paid an allowance of $4.50 each day the pool is open either for official school use or, public use when the school is closed and the employee has agreed to undertake these additional duties.

3.5.3 An employee who holds a current first aid certificate and is a designated first aider at the school shall be paid an allowance of 35 cents per hour.

3.5.4 Where an employee completes nine and a half hours or more on any one day the board shall either provide a suitable meal or, in lieu thereof, pay a meal allowance of $7.25.

3.5.5 Where an employee is required by the employer to use his/her own vehicle for school business he/she shall be paid 59 cents per kilometre and shall be responsible for arranging the appropriate insurance.  Where the use of the vehicle on the employer’s business necessitates altering the nature of the insurance, the employer shall refund any extra premium attributable to this usage.