The Education Minister has revealed a "historic" pay equity settlement for teacher aides is imminent.
Chris Hipkins says the Ministry of Education and NZEI Te Riu Roa agreed to settle the pay equity claim, which was first lodged in 2016.
The new rates will range from $21.20 to $34.68 per hour. Schools will receive the additional funds in October and teacher aides will receive the new pay equity rates by November, which will be backdated to February 12, 2020. More than 22,000 workers are affected by this.
"I'm pleased that an agreement has now been reached. This is a milestone for teacher aides and a significant step towards addressing pay equity for women in the education sector," Hipkins says.
"Teacher aides are frontline workers who work closely with some of our most vulnerable children. They play an important role in our schools as we respond to the challenges of COVID-19 and get the country back on its feet."
Details of the settlement will be sent to all teacher aides before NZEI members vote on it. If it's accepted, Hipkins says it will acknowledge the value of the skills, responsibilities and demands of their work.
The settlement will cost $348 million over the next five years.
