Early Learning Counties Manukau (ELCM) and Counties Manukau Kindergarten Association (CMKA) are involved in advocating for pay parity and pay equity for the Early Childhood Education (ECE) sector.

We are therefore pleased to announce that from 2 May 2022, all support staff employed in services operated by ELCM and CMKA will receive increases to the rates published in their Collective Employment Agreement. The rate increase will range between 5.2% – 5.8% with an average increase of 5.5% for our valuable support staff who work in positions including Teaching Assistants, Unqualified Teachers, Cooks and Administration Assistants. 

“We have liaised with NZEI Te Riu Roa about this decision, and received their agreement to vary the Collective Agreement rates accordingly” says ELCM/CMKA CEO Calmar Ulberg. “We know that hourly rates for support staff working in Early Childhood need critical attention, and so have made a decision to move towards addressing the gap for our own support staff, within the funding constraints facing our organisation and others in the sector.”

NZEI organiser Ben Rosamond, says “We were very pleased to hear about the pay increase. It’s great to see the organisation taking steps to address the matter of pay equity. We wait to see what’s in the budget in terms of extra funding for early childhood providers. As always, members are welcome to get in touch with any queries.”

We continue to work together with NZEI and other organisations committed to the continued progress towards pay equity and the improved funding across ECE.