Tauranga early childhood teachers protest for pay parity

Roughly 30 teachers took to Barkes Corner last Saturday to raise awareness about funding inequity in the sector. Photo / Supplied

Tauranga early childhood teachers will take to the streets this weekend to demand pay parity action with their kindergarten counterparts.

Qualified early childhood teachers are paid up to 52 per cent less than their kindergarten teachers for performing the same job with the same qualifications, the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) union says.

The Government announced a pay parity package earlier in the year aiming to increase pay in the sector.

However, the extra funding was not enough to match kindergarten pay rates.

Teachers and their supporters took part in protests across the country last week as part of a national day of action.

Roughly 30 teachers took to Barkes Corner last Saturday to raise awareness about funding inequity in the sector.

A Tauranga early childhood teacher, who requested not to be named, said there was a "huge" response from the public at last weekend's event - with many motorists tooting, cheering and waving.

She said the energy was "electric" and was pleased the call was heard by the wider community.

The woman, who had been in the profession for 17 years, said it was important families understood early childhood teachers were "doing exactly the same work as kindergarten teachers" but earning less.

"We have the same degree, we go through all the same systems and processes.

"I wouldn't give up private early childhood for anything. Just because I know the hard work and dedication that needs to go into these children."

NZEI Te Riu Roa president Liam Rutherford said the Government needed to keep its promises.

"ECE services provide essential value to our tamariki and their whānau every day, and yet many services are understaffed and can't afford to pay teachers what they're worth. The Government partially backtracking on their initial commitment for pay parity is not good enough."

He said investing in teachers meant "investing in our tamariki and their quality education".

The Ministry of Education said it had committed to pay parity for education and care teachers and was providing funding for the first five steps of the Kindergarten Teachers, Head Teachers and Senior Teachers' Collective Agreement.

Te Puna Kaupapahere/policy group manager John Brooker said the funding would be available from January 1 to teachers in education and care services that had opted in.

"When making the Budget 2021 pay parity funding announcement the minister also indicated the need to revise the ECE funding system to achieve full parity in the sector. This funding system review will involve sector consultation in 2022," he said.