Kindergarten Teachers, Head Teachers and Senior Teachers' Collective Agreement

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Appendix B: Terms of Settlement

Kindergarten Teachers, Head Teachers and Senior Teachers' Collective Agreement
Effective: 5 April 2023 to 4 April 2026

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  • Terms of Settlement
    • This document sets out the components of the settlement of the Kindergarten Teachers, Head Teachers and Senior Teachers’ Collective Agreement (KTCA) 2023-2026.

      This agreement has been settled between the Secretary for Education and the NZEI Te Riu Roa. It shall be subject to ratification by NZEI members pursuant to section 51 of the Employment Relations Act 2000.

      The terms outlined in this document are valid for ratification by NZEI Te Riu Roa members.

      1. Term of agreement

      The Kindergarten Teachers, Head Teachers and Senior Teachers’ Collective Agreement (KTCA) 2023-2026 shall be effective for 36 months from 5 April 2023 to 4 April 2026.

      2. Remuneration

      The parties agree to three annual increases to salary rates: ($4,000 from 1 December 2022 and $2,000 or 3%, whichever is the higher, from 1 December 2023 and between 2% and 4% from 2 December 2024) to each step of the Unified Base Salary Scale and for Head Teacher and Senior Teacher salary rates as shown below and set out in clauses 3.1 and 8.3.

      Teacher Unified Base Salary Scale and Salary Rates for Head Teachers and Senior Teachers:

      Step Current
      Salary
      1 Dec 2022 1 Dec 2023 2 Dec 2024 $ Change
      (cumulative)
      $ Change
      (cumulative)
      1 $51,358 $55,358 $57,358 $58,505 $7,147 13.9%
      2 $53,544 $57,544 $59,544 $60,735 $7,191 13.4%
      3 $55,948 $59,648 $61,948 $63,187 $7,239 12.9%
      4 $58,133 $62,133 $64,133 $65,416 $7,283 12.5%
      5 $61,794 $65,794 $67,794 $69,150 $7,356 11.9%
      6 $65,776 $69,776 $71,869 $73,307 $7,531 11.5%
      7 $70,040 $74,040 $76,261 $77,786 $7,746 11.1%
      8 $75,190 $79,190 $81,566 $83,197 $8,007 10.7%
      9 $79,413 $83,413 $85,915 $88,000 $8,587 10.8%
      10 $85,490 $89,490 $92,175 $94,500 $9,010 10.5%
      11 $90,000 $94,000 $96,820 $100,000 $10,000 11.1%
      Relieving
      Head
      Teacher
      $92,175 $96,175 $99,120 $102,600 $10,425 $11.3%
      Head
      Teacher
      $94,175 $98,175 $101,120 $104,600 $10,425 11.1%
      K3
      Senior
      Teacher
      $99,327 $103,327 $106,427 $110,305 $10,978 11.1%
      K4
      Senior
      Teacher
      $107,770 $112,770 $115,123 $119,679 $11,909 11.1%

      3. Renewal of the Unified Base Salary Scale

      The parties agree that the Unified Base Salary Scale will be renewed for the term of the agreement 5 April 2023 to 4 April 2026 as set out in clause 3.2.

      4. Additional Payments 

      In recognition of the benefits arising out of the parties’ relationship, including NZEI Te Riu Roa’s role in negotiating terms and conditions for kindergarten teachers, head teachers and senior teachers, and the contribution of NZEI Te Riu Roa and its members to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic response, each teacher who is a member of NZEI Te Riu Roa and is bound by this Agreement as at date the collective is signed will be paid a one-off gross payment of $710 as detailed in clause 2.20.

      5. Beginning Teachers

      The parties agree to the centrally payment of the Teacher Council fee (currently $512.37) for those beginning teachers entering the profession who progress from their provisional to full certificate during the term of the collective agreement.

      6. Cultural Leadership

      The parties agree to establish 100 recognition allowances, each of $5,000 per annum from the start of 2024. The allowance would recognise individual teachers’ leadership and expertise in Te Ao Māori and/or Te Reo Māori and could be allocated to teachers, head teachers or senior teachers. 

      Criteria for accessing the allowance and other administrative requirements will be developed by the parties, together with Kindergarten Association representatives, prior to the start of 2024. These criteria will be reviewed when the collective agreement expires.

      7. Head Teacher Professional Time 

      The parties agree to increase the amount of Head Teacher additional professional time to 40 hours per calendar year from the start of 2024, regardless of kindergarten type as set out in clause 2.5.3.

      8. Head Teacher Sabbatical Leave

      The parties agree to introduce 20 paid sabbatical leave places per annum, each of 10 weeks duration, for Head Teachers from the start of 2024. Eligibility criteria will be developed and published by the parties and employer representatives in 2023 as set out in clause 4.9.

      9. Sick Leave

      The parties agree to increase teachers’ sick leave entitlement to 15 days per year for teachers’ first appointment that occurs on or after the start of 2024, for current teachers’ next anniversary date that falls on or after the start of 2024 and to update the sick leave provisions to ensure they are compliant with the Holidays Act 2003 as set out in clause 4.3.

      10. Annual Holidays

      The parties agree to update the annual holiday provisions to reflect the different types of kindergartens and to update the annual holiday provisions for consistency as set out in clauses 4.2 and 8.5. 

      The parties agree to delete clause 8.5.5 in relation to the accumulation of annual holidays for Senior Teachers. However as provided in the Holidays Act 2003 if the employer and teacher are unable to reach agreement as to when the teacher will take their annual holidays an employer may require annual holiday entitlement to be taken with at least 14 days’ notice.

      11. Definitions

      The parties agree to update the definitions for Teachers, Head Teachers and Senior Teachers as set out in clause 1.6.1.

      12. Timing of Resignation

      The parties agree to exclude term breaks or periods when kindergartens are closed for instruction, exempting scheduled professional time, from the notice period unless agreed otherwise as set out in clause 2.13.

      13. Parental Grant

      The parties agree to define what constitutes a return to work, and thus eligibility for the Parental Grant payment as set out in clause 4.5.2 (a).

      14. Related Matters

      The parties agree that an implementation date of the remuneration elements provided in this settlement, by Kindergarten Associations, will be confirmed by prior to the Agreement being signed.

      The parties agree that the terms and conditions in the collective agreement, bar the additional payment in clause 2.20 of the agreement, will be passed on to teachers who are not members of NZEI Te Riu Roa.

      15. Joint Settlement Communication

      The parties will agree joint communications about the settlement including key messages, separate media releases which will be shared, and a summary of the settlement. 

      16. Technical Changes

      The parties will make any agreed technical or editing changes to the agreement before it is signed.

       

      Signed in Wellington on 5 April 2023 by: 

      Ella Hughes
      Advocate NZEI Te Riu Roa

      Tanya Duncan
      Advocate Ministry of Education 

      Witnessed:

      Jill Bond
      for NZ Kindergartens Inc

      Sherryll Wilson
      for Kindergartens Aotearoa

      Christine Hall
      for Early Childhood Leadership