FAQs

ECE Voice is powered by NZEI Te Riu Roa.

WHO CAN ADD THEIR VOICE?

Anyone can add their voice - whether you’re a teacher, employer, supporter or parent.

What does ADDING MY VOICE mean?

Adding your voice is the first step in the early childhood sector having a united voice. If you’re an ECE teacher, this campaign does not change your existing employment agreement and you remain covered by the employment agreement you have made with your employer.

You are adding your voice to support an immediate pay jolt and a stepped-out pay plan for ECE teachers. You’re also being part of the early childhood sector having a united voice.

By adding your voice, you also agree to receive updates on our plan to get early childhood teachers paid fairly and ways that you can be involved in your campaign.

What about pay equity?

This campaign is about fair pay, and we need to fight on all fronts. Our ECE pay equity claims are progressing well and will continue as they are an important legal tool we can use to ensure ECE teachers are valued properly.

WHY ARE WE ASKING PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT IN THE UNION TO BE INVOLVED?

The Early Childhood Education Collective Agreement (ECECA) covers hundreds of staff in a range of centres, but most ECE teachers are not covered by any collective agreement.

There are thousands of ECE teachers whose pay and conditions have been impacted by years of funding cuts. If we’re going to make changes in ECE, we’re going to need to join our voices together.

Strength in numbers is the way we get heard. There are over 30,000 passionate ECE teachers in Aotearoa. By standing together, we can draw real attention to the issues facing our sector and make ECE a priority for the government and the public.

WHY HAVE WE LINKED THIS CAMPAIGN TO THE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT (ECECA)?

The ECECA plays an important role, as its pay rates are what the Ministry of Education uses to set minimum rates for ECE centres across the rest of the sector.

You can find out more information on the attested rates here.

When new rates are set in the ECECA we need the government to commit to increasing the attested rates and fair pay for the whole ECE sector.

OK, I’VE SIGNED UP, BUT HOW ARE WE GOING TO WIN THIS?

We’re not going to win overnight, but if we do nothing, nothing will change. We need to make the government face the issue. It’s not going away. Education Minister Chris Hipkins says ECE is a top priority, so now is the time to hold him to that.

The Minister has said parity in ECE will cost a billion dollars and will need to be done in stages. At the same time, we’ve been building a strong pay equity case so that we have a legal mechanism to force a solution to low pay in ECE.

There are a number of ways the government can choose to fix the pay gap for good - all of them require action and investment in ECE. What we’re doing is telling them that the government needs to start now and get on with it. We’re going to be using every single opportunity to force the issue and we need everyone involved.

WILL MY EMPLOYER KNOW ABOUT MY INVOLVEMENT?

Your employer will not be provided with any information you have provided to us. We’re collecting this information in line with the Privacy Act 1993 which means we will treat this information confidentially and we will not share it with anyone else. You can also join NZEI Te Riu Roa as a confidential member, if you contact us at any stage this is not shared with your employer.

How do I join NZEI TE RIU ROA?

You can join NZEI Te Riu Roa and if you have questions about becoming a member you can call us confidentially on 0800 693 443.