Education staff fight for equal pay

May 11, 2018

Education staff fight for equal pay

JULIE-ANNE ROBERTS (LEFT) SPEAKING AT THE RALLY ALONGSIDE LINDA JORDAN (RIGHT). PHOTO: ROCHELLE STREET

The education sector rallied for equal pay at Auckland’s Aotea square on Saturday.

The Fair’s Fair Mana Taurite was campaigned across New Zealand to demand pay equity in the education sector as funding resources continue to drop and pay gaps increase.

Several women in the education sector spoke at the Auckland rally about the importance of education on the lives of young New Zealanders.

Linda Jordan, a teacher aide of 20 years, said the majority of her students could be in prison or on the dole because “if you can’t read and write you can’t do the basics in life.”

Jordan says it is needed because the demands of the job compared to the pay they receive is affecting numbers of people wanting to pursue jobs in education.

According to the New Zealand PayScale, the average salary rate for a teacher aide in New Zealand is $17.23ph. This is $1.22ph less than a hospitality bar manager.

The demands of a teacher aide include working with teachers in classrooms to assist the development and behavioural demands of students in need.

There are multiple roles within the education sector, like office administration, which are important in order to keep schools running.

Office administration worker Julie-Anne Roberts, took on twice the workload because the school resources do not support replacing the administration worker who resigned.

Robert’s extra work is not shown in her pay and any overtime that is done to complete the extra work is not paid for.

The issues of education pay equity were voiced by both Roberts and Jordan at the pay equity rally, Fairs Fair, alongside Green Party Co-leader Marama Davidson.

“Our teachers, our support staff are the heart of our communities and always have been,” said Davidson.

Around 60 education staff members and political figures attended the Auckland rally.

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