Protect pay parity – points to make in an email to Education Minister Erica Stanford

erica.stanford@parliament.govt.nz

Early childhood teachers deserve to be paid properly for the important work that they do.

Pay parity was being introduced across the sector but this has now been undermined by relievers, fixed term teachers and many newly trained teachers being excluded.  

As a kindergarten teacher, I have pay parity which has been in place for nearly 20 years, but I know that other teachers across the sector work just as hard and play a similarly important role.

I also know that kindergarten funding and pay parity are under threat from the current funding review.

I urge you to retain pay parity with the school sector and to ensure all early childhood teachers receive pay parity with their school colleagues.  

Valuing teachers also values children and families, and makes early childhood teaching an attractive profession for new and existing teachers.