The Council of Trade Unions today congratulated education support workers for achieving pay equity, with the signing of terms of settlement for workers who provide support to young children with additional learning needs.
“Today’s settlement is huge affirmation of the work of these women. Their work has been undervalued for a very long time, and today is a very proud day for this workforce. It is recognition of the essential work this group of women do,” says CTU Secretary Sam Huggard.
The settlement, for Ministry of Education-employed Support Workers, includes an immediate pay increase of up to 30 per cent and further increases over three years.
“Making progress on pay equity for women is a top priority for the trade union movement and we are pleased to be forging ahead on this with a coalition government that values the work of women, and where the Prime Minister and her colleagues are actively supporting the journey.”
Today’s announcement follows earlier pay equity settlements for care and support workers and mental health support workers. Several other occupations have pay equity processes underway or in planning.
Annual figures from Statistics NZ setting out the gender pay imbalance, due out tomorrow morning, will highlight the ongoing work needed to secure wage justice for all working women, says Huggard.
