- Hon Erica Stanford
Education Minister Erica Stanford has welcomed the successful conclusion of negotiations to renew the Primary Teachers' Collective Agreement (PTCA). A ballot on the second of April with members of the NZEI returned a majority vote to ratify the collective agreement.
"Over 460,000 students receive instruction and guidance from talented primary teachers every day. Their dedication builds the foundational knowledge every learner needs to achieve their full potential as they progress through our education system," Ms Stanford says.
Under the terms of the PTCA settlement, teachers on the top two steps of the salary scale receive a cumulative pay increase of 4.7 percent by January 2027, which is comprised of a 2.5 percent increase effective from today and a further 2.1 percent increase on 28 January next year. This means teachers who are at the top of the pay scale will see their base salary increase to $107,886 per annum.
Meanwhile, teachers who are moving up the pay scale will continue to receive annual step increases along with a cumulative 4.6 percent pay increase which is comprised of a 2.5 percent increase from today and a further 2 percent increase in January next year.
"Through this bargaining round, we're really pleased to have been able to resolve the historic and longstanding inequity between the primary and secondary unit rates. This means the 60 percent of primary teachers who hold units will receive a phased increase in the value of units from $4,500 to $5,500 by October 2028, moving to a unit parity position with their secondary counterparts.
"I want to thank all primary teachers for their significant commitment to implementing the refreshed curriculum, and I am committed to ensuring every teacher has the support and resources they need to lift educational achievement.
Full details of the Primary Teachers' Collective Agreement (PTCA) settlement can be found here: Collective Agreement negotiations | Education Workforce
