Date 23 October 2024 | Circular 2024/02 | Category Employment Relations

This circular is about the initiation of bargaining for the renewal of 3 collective agreements:

• School Caretakers’, Cleaners’, Canteen and Ground Staff Collective Agreement
• Kaiārahi i te Reo and Therapists’ Collective Agreement
• Support Staff in Schools’ Collective Agreement.

This circular does not replace any other.

The action needed is to bring the relevant Notice of Initiation of Bargaining to the attention of all employees whose work may be covered by either of the proposed collective agreements, within ten days of receipt of the attached notice.

It is intended for Chairpersons of School Boards and Principals of all state and state-integrated primary, area and secondary schools or attached community learning centre.

Introduction

Section 43 of the Employment Relations Act 2000 (the Act) requires that on receiving a notice of intention to bargain for a collective agreement under the Act, details of that notice are to be drawn to the attention of all employees who come within the coverage of the intended agreement within ten days of receiving that notice.

Notice of Initiation – Caretakers', cleaners’, canteen and ground staff

On 15 October 2024, the Ministry of Education received formal notification from E tū Incorporated that it seeks to renew the collective agreement covering school caretakers, cleaners, canteen and ground staff employed in any state or state integrated schools or attached community learning centres and who is employed by a School Board.

The intended parties to the collective agreement will be E tū Incorporated and the Secretary for Education acting under the delegation from the Public Service Commissioner. The agreement sought would bind all the employees defined who are or become members of E tū Incorporated and every school board employing such employees coming within the coverage of the proposed collective agreement.

A copy of the Notice of Initiation of Bargaining for the School Caretakers’, Cleaners’, Canteen and Ground Staff Collective Agreement needs to be provided as soon as possible to any employee(s) that may be covered by the renewed School Caretakers’, Cleaners’, Canteen and Ground Staff Collective Agreement.

Notice of Initiation – Kaiārahi i te Reo and Therapists

On 20 October 2024, the Ministry of Education received formal notification from the NZEI Te Riu Roa that it seeks to renew the collective agreement covering kaiārahi i te reo, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and music therapists employed in any state or state integrated schools or attached community learning centres and who is employed by a School Board (excluding the School Board at Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu).

The intended parties to the collective agreement will be the NZEI Te Riu Roa and the Secretary for Education acting under the delegation from the Public Service Commissioner. The agreement sought would bind all the employees defined who are or become members of the NZEI Te Riu Roa and every school board employing such employees coming within the coverage of the proposed collective agreement.

A copy of the Notice of Initiation of Bargaining for the Kaiārahi i te Reo and Therapists’ Collective Agreement needs to be provided as soon as possible to any employee(s) that may be covered by the renewed Kaiārahi i te Reo and Therapists’ Collective Agreement.

Notice of Initiation – Support Staff

On 21 October 2024, the Ministry of Education received formal notification from the NZEI Te Riu Roa and E tū that it seeks to renew the collective agreement covering all employees employed by a Board of Trustees in a state or state-integrated primary, intermediate, secondary or composite school, with the exception of employees employed in the following roles: 

• principal
• teacher
• adviser to teachers
• speech language therapist
• occupational therapist
• physiotherapist
• community worker
• pre-school worker
• cleaner
• caretaker
• ground-staff worker
• building maintenance worker
• school transport driver
• after school carer
• study centre worker
• kaiarahi i te reo
• assistant to teachers of students with severe disabilities (ATSSD)
• special education assistant
• hostel worker
• residential or domestic services employee in a special school (excluding Blind and Low Vision Education Network NZ employees)
• residential social worker
• audiologist
• careers advisor
• guidance counsellor other than guidance counsellors who hold neither a current practising certificate nor another form of authorisation issued by the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand
• community education/learning centre tutor
• community education personnel who are funded by Ministry of Education allocated tutor hours
• tuck shop or canteen employee (other than a manager responsible for other staff appointed after 1 January 2008).

The intended parties to the collective agreement will be the NZEI Te Riu Roa, E tū Incorporated and the Secretary for Education acting under the delegation from the Public Service Commissioner. The agreement sought would bind all the employees defined who are or become members of the NZEI Te Riu Roa and E tū Incorporated and every school board employing such employees coming within the coverage of the proposed collective agreement.

A copy of the Notice of Initiation of Bargaining for the Support Staff in Schools’ Collective Agreement needs to be provided as soon as possible to any employee(s) that may be covered by the renewed Support Staff in Schools’ Collective Agreement.

Issued by Tim Tucker, Manager, Employment Relations and Payroll Operations, Te Pou Ohumahi Mātauranga | Education Workforce

Ministry of Education, National Office, 1 The Terrace, Wellington 6011
PO Box 1666, Wellington 6140, New Zealand

Phone: 04 463 8000

Email: [email protected]