Swings + Roundabouts Winter 2021

It’s funny how some issues intersect. Or conflict, depending on how you’re feeling that day. I attended a meeting the other day on Pay Equity. The meeting was generally very productive and moved forward on issues like finalising a MEPA (Multi-Employer Process Agreement) and establishing a Steering Group. One issue that demanded debate was a proposal by the Ministry of Education that Pay Equity claims for ECE teachers, primary teachers and secondary teachers should be amalgamated into one claim. The Ministry’s view is that a teacher-is-a- teacher-is-a-teacher, and that there are no differences – roles across education are substantially the same. The ECC is opposed to this because we fear, from repeated history, that this would lead to the ECE kaupapa being marginalised. Crucially, while there are similarities between teaching roles, there are also important differences. Do you see where this is going? I couldn’t help but point out to my Ministry colleagues that if the Ministry truly believes a teacher- is-a-teacher-is-a-teacher, then how to justify differences in the minimum pay rates set for teachers by the Ministry? Between ECE centres and Kindergartens, or centres and primary for that matter? Why does the Ministry fund non-contact time for some and not all? Why provide funded PLD for some and not others? No, the Ministry of Education, through its deliberate policy choices, ensures that a teacher is not a teacher across our sector and across education. Follow the money indeed! As our sector rejoices in the pre-budget announcement of more investment toward teacher pay parity (something we shouldn’t have had to spend ten years arguing for if a teacher-is-a-teacher-is-a-teacher just quietly), we continue to argue for funding fairness for centres. That could be an increase in the per-child rate of funding for centres, that have endured poor funding support from successive governments for over a decade. The government continues to be concerned with issues of profitability in ECE. Here’s a basic economic fact: wage growth is unavoidable if you improve profitability. This occurs throughout our economy, except in our space where officials live in fear of a centre making a dollar. I remind members regularly that profitability is not a dirty word. It’s about being able to open your doors next week; being able to continue to offer a quality ECE experience to children and their families into the future and being able to MESSAGE CEO's June 2021 { 8 }