Contact your local MP to let them know that the time for pay parity is now!
Right now is a critical time where we can influence the new government's plans. There are a lot of new MPs, and most of them don't know about the situation we're facing in ECE.
If we all reached out to our new local candidates, we could significantly shape the thinking of this new government and raise pay parity higher up their list of priorities!
There are thousands of ECE Voice supporters now - if even just a small number of us reached out to our new local candidates, we could significantly shape the thinking of this new government and raise pay parity higher up their list of priorities!
Let’s call these new MPs and let them know we want pay parity high on their agenda!
Not sure what to say on the phone? Here's just one way your conversation could look - and it would work just as well as a voicemail message too.
"Kia ora! My name is _______, and I work in early childhood education.
I'm calling because I know you and your party are still making your plans for the most urgent priorities in this term of government, and I think it's really important that pay parity for early childhood teachers is high on your list.
For the last year, thousands of us have come together under the ECE Voice campaign, calling for fair pay for ECE kaiako. Right now, ECE teachers with the same qualifications, experience and responsibilities as teachers in primary schools are paid as much as 49% less than our counterparts in primary. We don't think that's right!
For Labour and Green MPs:
It’s really promising that Labour and the Greens campaigned on the promise of delivering pay parity for our ECE kaiako this term, but why I’m calling is to ask you to prioritise doing this quickly. We can’t afford to wait.
For other MPs:
Labour and the Greens campaigned saying they’d deliver pay parity for our ECE kaiako this term - and we think it’s important you hold them to account on this promise and ask them to get it done quickly.
Here’s some ideas for persuasive points you can share to explain why pay parity is so urgent!
Across the country, ECE teachers are working hard to support our country's children - but are struggling to support their own children with such low pay.
All children and their whānau deserve access to quality early childhood education, but right now, low pay is forcing amazing ECE kaiako to consider leaving the sector.
COVID-19 has reminded us how important it is to invest in our people - and delivering pay parity for ECE teachers would both improve the lives of tens of thousands of working people and be an investment in quality education.
The first 1000 days of a child's life are most important to their development - we need to make sure we're paying the teachers who support their learning at this time fairly!
Share your own personal story about how the pay and conditions in ECE have impacted you or the people you know, and the difference pay parity will make.
If you'd like more information about why we're campaigning for pay parity for ECE teachers, you can check out our campaign website at ecevoice.org.
I hope you'll be able to champion this issue in Parliament on behalf of ECE teachers in Aotearoa.”
