The Government's latest move to unwind the 'pay parity' regime carefully negotiated between government and the sector is a kick in the teeth for already undervalued and underpaid kaiako.
"Make no mistake, this is a move by the Government to ensure that pay increases for teachers stay low, while cutting costs to employers," says the Green Party spokesperson for Early Childhood Education, Benjamin Doyle (they/them).
"Today, the Ministry of Education announced that, following a decision by Minister Seymour, centres in the pay parity scheme don't have to offer new teachers pay parity rates. So while they can't cut the pay of their existing workers, they don't have to maintain these rates for new employees - meaning reduction in wages over time.
"This is another blow to kaiako - already undervalued and let down by this government by the pay equity debacle. Slashing pay sends a clear message that teachers don't matter.
"Driving down wages means more teachers walking away, and it's our tamariki and their whānau who will pay the price. We can't gamble with their futures by short-changing the very people who shape them.
"This news comes less than a fortnight after we learned the dire state of sector's confidence in the direction the Government is taking ECE, with 82 per cent of those at the coalface saying it's going in the wrong direction.
"Every child in Aotearoa deserves the best start in life. That demands an ECE system that places tamariki at its core by supporting and valuing the important work of teachers and educators.
"Our Green Budget has shown that we can pay every ECE teacher fairly-if we make the sector not-for-profit, public, and community-led.
"Take out the corporate greed and put every dollar into tamariki and kaiako - that's how we can lower costs for parents and pay teachers what they deserve," says Benjamin Doyle.
