By REBECCA WALSH
Kindergarten teachers celebrating their return to the state sector say it is a big step forward in their push for pay parity.
But they say cash for teachers' salaries will have to come from the Government purse and the main sticking point is likely to be how soon that happens.
Under the Employment Relations Act, all kindergarten teachers and the associations employing them come back into the state sector, from which they were removed in 1997 by the National Government.
Negotiations between their union, the NZEI, and the Education Ministry on the new collective agreement start this month.
Kindergarten teachers want a unified pay scale for all teachers, and progress towards pay parity with their colleagues in the school sector by the end of 2002. The Government has already indicated its support for pay parity, which is estimated to cost $23 million.
Auckland Kindergarten Association general manager Tanya Harvey said the return to the state sector recognised the professionalism and qualifications of kindergarten teachers.
But she said pay parity would have to be financed by the Government as kindergarten associations could not afford it.
Ms Harvey said 91 per cent of kindergartens' bulk-funding went into teachers' salaries.
On average, a kindergarten teacher with equivalent academic qualifications and responsibilities is paid 46 per cent less than a primary school teacher.
Averil Stevenson, president of Kindergartens Incorporated, said it was pleasing that the professional status of kindergarten teachers was being recognised.
But she wanted to see all trained and registered early childhood centre teachers receiving similar recognition.
Education Minister Trevor Mallard said the Government supported pay parity and would set up a working group next year.
Kindies winning battle
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