School support staff eye pay deal

School support staff are attending union meetings over the next two weeks to vote on a new work deal, including a pay rise.

At meetings organised by NZEI Te Riu Roa, the staff will vote on pay rises, lifting minimum rates to $15 an hour, and better recognition of their professionalism in schools.

NZEI national secretary Paul Goulter said the last pay deal for support staff was in December 2009 and they were a long way off securing a "fair deal".

"These mainly women workers put a lot of time and professional effort into schools and children's learning. They deserve to be valued for the work they do and have the increasing demands of their jobs recognised.

"Their issues of low pay are compounded by job insecurity, cost of living and GST increases, pay and employment inequity, and the fact they got no real benefit from the tax cuts," he said.

More than 50 per cent of support staff are teacher aides, but other roles include librarians and office managers.

If support staff voted in favour of the pay claim it was expected they would enter into formal pay talks with the Government late this month.

- NZPA