Circular 2023/15 - Variation to the Primary Principals' (PPCBU) Collective Agreement 2022-2025
Date 27 November 2023 | Circular 2023/15 | Category Employment Relations
This circular is about the details of the recently agreed variation to the Primary Principals' (PPCBU) Collective Agreement 2022-2025 (PPCA-PPCBU).
This circular does not replace any other.
It is intended for Presiding Members of School Boards of all state and state-integrated primary schools.
For more information contact the New Zealand School Trustees Association on 0800 782 435 or email eradvice@nzsta.org.nz.
The action needed is to:
- Note the variation to the PPCA-PPCBU provides changes to U-grade rates.
- Note the one-off lump sum payment for all primary principals employed as at 1 December 2023 has increased to $1,500 (gross), from $500 (gross). This payment will be pro-rated for part-time principals.
- Note the term of the PPCA-PPCBU has extended and will now expire on 1 May 2025.
- Note existing staff who have already signed the IEA promulgated on 15 August 2023 do not need to sign a new IEA to receive these changes.
- Offer new staff an IEA where they opt for an IEA. Refer to guidance about employment agreement coverage for primary principals here.
Introduction
On 21 November 2023, the Primary Principals’ (PPCBU) Collective Agreement 2022-2025 (PPCA-PPCBU) was varied in agreement with the Primary Principals’ Collective Bargaining Union.
This variation has been offered following the ratification of the Secondary Principals’ Collective Agreement 2022-2025 (SPCA) to maintain the Unified Pay System for principals in state and state-integrated schools and kura.
This circular provides a summary of the changes and new provisions agreed in the variation.
Collective agreements can be downloaded from the Ministry of Education’s website: www.education.govt.nz/collective-agreements/.
Key features of the variation
Term
The variation extends the term of the agreement by five months. The term of the PPCA-PPCBU is now 1 December 2022-1 May 2025.
Changes to U-grade rates
The variation provides changes to the U-grade rates, which includes an additional increase effective 16 November 2023, and two further increases in 2024. The new pay rates will be implemented by Education Payroll in pay period 22, on 23 January 2024.
| Rates effective 20 Aug 2021 |
Current Rates effective 1 Dec 2022 |
Varied Rates effective 16 Nov 2023 |
PPCBU settlement increase effective 1 Dec 2023 |
Varied Rates effective 3 July 2024 |
Further increase effective 2 Dec 2024 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U1 | $98,031 | $102,031 | $103,913 | $105,092 | $107,030 | $118,003 |
| U2 | $98,031 | $102,031 | $103,913 | $105,092 | $107,030 | $118,003 |
| U3 | $106,170 | $110,170 | $112,540 | $113,475 | $115,916 | $118,003 |
| U4 | $114,489 | $118,489 | $121,358 | $122,044 | $124,999 | $127,249 |
| U5 | $122,808 | $126,808 | $130,176 | $130,612 | $134,082 | $136,495 |
| U6 | $127,564 | $131,564 | $135,218 | $135,511 | $139,274 | $141,781 |
| U7 | $132,515 | $136,515 | $140,466 | $140,610 | $144,680 | $147,284 |
| U8 | $137,468 | $141,468 | $145,716 | $145,716 | $150,088 | $152,789 |
| U9 | $140,835 | $144,835 | $149,285 | $149,285 | $153,764 | $156,531 |
| U10 | $144,201 | $148,201 | $152,853 | $152,853 | $157,439 | $160,273 |
| U11 | $149,114 | $153,114 | $158,061 | $158,061 | $162,803 | $165,733 |
| U12 | $154,028 | $158,028 | $163,270 | $163,270 | $168,168 | $171,195 |
| U13 | $158,621 | $162,621 | $168,138 | $168,138 | $173,182 | $176,300 |
| U14 | $163,216 | $167,216 | $173,009 | $173,009 | $178,199 | $181,407 |
| U15 | $167,237 | $171,237 | $177,271 | $177,271 | $182,589 | $185,876 |
| U16 | $171,260 | $175,260 | $181,536 | $181,536 | $186,982 | $190,347 |
Lump sum payment
The variation also increases the one-off lump sum payment for all primary principals employed as at 1 December 2023 from $500 (gross) to $1,500 (gross). The lump sum payment will be paid by Education Payroll in PP19 on 12 December 2023.
Individual Employment Agreement (IEA)
Existing employees
- Existing non-union employees do not need to sign a new Individual Employment Agreement (IEA) if they have already signed a Primary Principal IEA promulgated 15 August 2023.
- Where principals choose to leave the PPCBU and be employed on an IEA after ratification of the variation, they will need to sign a new Primary Principal IEA promulgated on 22 November 2023.
New employees
- New principals who are not members of PPCBU must be employed on an IEA based on the renewed Primary Principals’ (NZEI) Collective Agreement 2022-2025.
- Employers must inform new employees that a collective agreement exists and provide them with a copy of the agreement and information about how to contact and join the relevant union(s). New employees who are not members of the union must 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 the IEA or join the applicable union and become bound by the collective agreement.
- Refer to guidance for primary principals about union membership for support here.
In the event a Board has concerns and/or questions regarding its employment arrangements with individual employees, the Board should contact its NZSTA adviser or its own employment adviser.
Issued by:
Tim Tucker, Manager Employment Relations, Te Pou Ohumahi Mātauranga | Education Workforce
Ministry of Education, PO Box 1666, Wellington 6140, New Zealand, Phone 04-463 8000,
Email: employment.relations@education.govt.nz
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