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3 April

New Zealand living wage rate increases to $26 an hour

The New Zealand Living wage for 2023/24 has been announced to increase to $26 an hour. This is an increase of $2.35 or 9.9% on the 2022/23 rate. The rate change will take effect from 1 September 2023.

6 April

Kindergarten teacher offer shows vast improvement

Following the historic strike held on March 16, where the kindergarten teachers joined the teachers from primary and secondary schools for the first time.

The offer includes. Raises in sick leave from 10 to 15 days; increases of between 11.1% and 13.9%, and would raise the top pay bracket from $90,000 to $100,000 by December 2024.

11 April

Union launches bid for Fair Pay Agreement on behalf of cleaners

ETU will initiate the bargaining process on behalf of cleaners for an FPA, this is the second profession after the security guards to initiate bargaining. Most cleaners are wanting to be paid the living wage as many are sitting in and around the minimum wage.  There are about 35,000 cleaners across the country.

12 Apr

3 MAY FOR BACKPAY

Fire and Emergency New Zealand confirmed backpay for its NZPFU member and will be paid on 3 May 2023.

13 Apr

Community Corrections staff strike over failed pay talks

After nine months of negotiations, nearly 2000 probation offers and other corrections staff have begun industrial action ( Members walked off the job for 2 hours and will do so again on April 20 and 27.)

Community Corrections staff manage offenders subject to sentences or court orders in the community, including those on home detention, community detention, supervision, parole and doing community work, they also deal with deportees, returning from Australia.

15 Apr

Nurses take to the streets, demanding more staff, better pay

Nurses gathered across the country to demand at least 4000 more trained nurses ( after nearly 5000 nurse have registered to work in Australia) , for improved pay and conditions and for more resources.

17 Apr

Primary school teachers to vote on improved offer

Primary school teachers will be voting on an improved offer.

The offer includes:

• Increases in classroom release time to enable at least a day a fortnight for teachers to plan, more than double what they have currently. Introduction of new classroom release time for unit holders (teachers who take on particular responsibilities within a school).
• Acknowledging cultural leadership in schools with an increase in the Māori immersion teaching allowance;
  the introduction of a new Pacific bilingual teaching allowance;
  and for the first time, 1200 cultural leadership allowances of $5000 per annum from 2024 to recognise those kaiako with additional responsibilities because they are cultural and/or community leaders who build staff capability in schools and kura.
• A remuneration increase of between 11-14% over three years which will help teachers deal with inflation and lifts the top step to $100,000 per year by the end of 2024. Backdating to 1 December 2022.
• Access to significantly more sick leave under the offer, providing around 30% more over their career.
• Other improvements affecting beginning teachers, mileage and a member only benefit for NZEI Te Riu Roa members.

21 April

Bank Workers Not Seeing Record Profits Reflected In Their Wages

According to FIRST UNION – After large profits over recent years, Bank workers in New Zealand have not received pay increases that are anywhere near commensurate with continued profits of the ‘Big Four’ .

Negotiations have begun at Westpac and ASB and BNZ to begin later in the year.

FIRST UNION have called for a 5% levy on excess bank profits over half a billion dollars.

25 Apr

Unions Welcome Interim Pay equity offer 

MERAS (Midwifery Employee Representation & Advisory Service) finally have the details for an interim Pay equity offer for around 1750 midwives and maternity care assistants.

After being excluded from the interim pay equity for the nurses in February/March this year.