A copy of the Terms of Reference for the review and the discussion paper can be found on the Department of Labour's website at www.dol.govt.nz/consultation.

Submissions close in less than a month.

Click here For the Department of Labour submission site".Submissions close on 31 March. They should be e-mailed to ERconsultation@dol.govt.nz or posted to Review of Personal Grievances, Workplace Policy Group, Department of Labour, PO Box 3705, Wellington.

ISE and the CTU is concerned about the Government's proposals. Helen Kelly says
“We are concerned that the Government plans to further reduce an employee’s right to appeal against unfair dismissal, coming on top of the wholly unfair and unnecessary 90-day fire at will law,” said Kelly. “Allowing less than one month for submissions suggest that the Government has already made up its mind about what it wishes to do. It is important that unions and workers make sure their voice is heard to counter claims that employers are disadvantaged by the system.”

By Nathan Beaumont. Dominion Post. The PPTA has spent thousands of dollars on a cartoon video that mocks the Government for cutting adult night classes.

The Post Primary Teachers Association hopes the clip, the first in a series of issues it plans to tackle with cartoons, will ruffle a few feathers.

Click here For the Dominion Post article of 23rd Feb 2010 "Union cartoon attacks night class cuts".

Click here For the cartoon video on the PPTA website.

Associate Minister of Education Heather Roy's speech to students who have received assistance to attend an independent school under the Aspire Scholarship scheme she launched as part of ACT and National's broader initiative to widen school choice for young people and their families.

"After becoming the Associate Minister I introduced the Aspire Scholarships, a Government initiative by National and ACT designed to provide more students and their families with choice in education. Under Aspire, students from around the country who meet certain criteria receive assistance to enable them to attend an independent school. One hundred and fifty scholarships were made available – 50 each in Years 9, 10 and 11 – for the 2010 school year. This will increase to 200 in 2011 and 250 in 2012."

Click here For the Scoop article of 2nd Feb 2010 "Minister Welcomes Aspire Students On First Day".

Prime Minister John Key is trying to shut down concerns about national standards - including those held by Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples - by saying decisions on how the data will be publicly reported are too far away to worry about today.

The Maori Party co-leader expressed concern that parents might make choices about which schools they send their children to on the basis of information made public about a school.

Click here For the NZ Herald article of 2nd Feb 2010 "PM downplays fears of school league tables".

Click here For the NZ Herald article "Back to school for a new era" 2nd Feb 2010.

Congratulations to the NZEI for settling the support staff in schools collective agreement, subject to ratification by its members in February 2010.

NZEI advise that the main points of the settlement are:

• From 27 January 2010, the bottom step in Grade A for both Administrative and Associate will be $14.00 with the next step being $14.62. The bottom step of Grade B will be $14.62 - equivalent to the "pay jolt" we campaigned for and were promised in 2008.
• A 1.4 % pay increase for support staff on printed rates above $14.62 from January 27 2010.
• The new agreement will run from 10 December 2009 to 31 March 2011

This has been a huge campaign for support staff and a good result in that they have cracked the government wage freeze.

ISEA congratulates the NZEI as this settlement assists our members in independent schools. Many of our collectives are due for re-negotiation in 2010 and this settlement assists our discussions.

Members, family and friends from state and independent schools will be taking part in the march. Support from other staff members would be great, so if you happen to be in Queen Street on Saturday join the march

Click here For the ISEA Employment Fact Sheets and publications page for members.

mferguson@isea.org.nz

The Government has introduced a law change that will allow the employer to withhold workers' regular breaks, and instead pay for the time or trade the breaks for time off later.

National's bill allows employers to replace regular breaks with "compensatory measures".

Click here For the NZ Herald article of 28th October 2009.

Click here For the Employment Relations (Rest Breaks and Meal Breaks) Amendment Bill.

Press Release by CTU 27th October 2009

The changes introduced by the Government today to legislation providing entitlements to workers for rest and meal breaks are unnecessary and ignore the basis of the current provisions, said CTU President Helen Kelly.

“Workers in collective agreements and working for reasonable employers will be getting breaks,” she continued. “The whole point of this law was to ensure some minimum requirements for those in workplaces that were unorganised and where employers disregarded the need every worker has for some time to rest during a working day.”

“This legislation removes the most basic of minimum standards which, in a country with no regulated working hours, is fundamental to workers’ wellbeing. Neither unions nor business were consulted and no notice was given that it would be introduced today in the speech John Key gave to the CTU conference only last week,” added Kelly. “It is yet another instance of this Government pandering unnecessarily to what it thinks are employers’ interests at the expense of the most vulnerable workers.” ENDS

Click here to see the CTU press release on Rest Breaks".

Click here to see the Employment Relations (Rest Breaks and Meal Breaks) Amendment Bill

As we previously advised, Cardplus has signed a new agreement with Shell New Zealand Limited as our new fuel card supplier to all our Cardplus members. Please find below links to explain more about this new Shell Card and an application form.

Special introductory offer for 3 months (5th November 2009 –31st January 2010 inclusive) of 6 cents per litre off the pump price for all fuels (petrol, diesel and LPG) together with double Fly Buys points on fuel purchases at participating Shell Service Stations over this period (2 points per $50 spend cumulative monthly).

Please note: Effective the 27th of November you will no longer be able to access your Caltex fuelcard.

Click here for more information on this change to a Shell Card".

Click here for The application form to order a Shell Card".

Click here for more information on this change and how it affects the holders of the Caltex Card".

In addition to the remits discussed and voted on at the conference, The CTU delegates also voted in favour of the attached ‘conference resolution’ at the close of the last day of the conference.

Click here For the CTU Conference Resolution.

Details of new national education standards are being released on Friday, with the main focus on reading, writing, and arithmetic.
Education Minister Anne Tolley says going back to basics first is important if children are to learn other things, but other subjects will not take a back seat.
Tolley says some schools already have assessment standards, but half do not.
Setting national standards in reading, writing and maths was a National Party campaign promise and is due to come in next year.

Click here For the TVNZ Article "National education standards released" of 23rd October 2009.

John Key laid down a challenge to teachers yesterday - sacrifice part of a pay rise so school support staff can have one.
The staff - including teacher aides, administration workers, librarians, nurses and therapists - are negotiating for a new collective contract.
Mr Key said the staff were in a difficult position in their negotiations because of the fiscally restrained environment.
"Maybe one option is you guys ought to go and talk to your fellow unions and say, 'Let's have teachers taking less of a pay rise so it can be put toward education support staff'. See if they support you."

Click here For the NZ Herald Article "Key issues pay-cut challenge to teachers" of 22nd October 2009.

We are pleased to announce that our benefit provider, Cardplus,have signed a new agreement with Shell New Zealand Limited as our new fuel card supplier to all our Cardplus members. You can fill up with a truly trusted brand that delivers high qualify fuels and automotive products through a network of over 220 service stations throughout New Zealand.

Special introductory offer for 3 months (5th November 2009 –31st January 2010 inclusive) of 6 cents per litre off the pump price for all fuels (petrol, diesel and LPG) together with double Fly Buys points on fuel purchases at participating Shell Service Stations over this period (2 points per $50 spend cumulative monthly).

Please note: Effective the 27th of November you will no longer be able to access your Caltex fuelcard.

Click here for more information on this change and how it affects the holders of the Caltex Card".

“The fears of communities around New Zealand are confirmed. Less than a quarter of schools currently offering night classes, will do so in 2010. It doesn’t matter how much political spin you put on these stats – National has killed a 100 year institution.
Of the 212 schools currently offering Adult Community Education (ACE), already at this stage, 86 schools have opted out – the government have made it impossible for many schools and communities to offer night classes”says Maryke Fordyce - President of the Community Education Learning Association through Schools (CLASS)."

Press Release: Community Learning Association Through Schools on Friday, 9 October 2009,

Click here For the Press Release from the Community Learning Association Through Schools

Are integrated schools taking funding away from the state schools? Hear the interview featuring PPTA President Kate Gainsford and Integrated Schools Chair Robyn Prior. ( 20m 18secs duration)

Click here to hear the RadioNZ interview of 29th September 2009 "Funding for integrated schools" 7mb.

Click here to hear access the RadioNZ interview of Page of 29th September 2009.

Greater powers are needed to censure private schools which are not up to scratch, the Law Commission has recommended.

In a report issued today, Law Commissioner Sir Geoffrey Palmer said the 90-year-old legislation covering private schools was "past its use-by-date".

Private schools that do not meet standards can be deregistered, but lesser penalties are not available, the report said.

Click here to see NZ Herald article "More powers needed to censure private schools ".

The Law Commission’s report Private schools and the law was published on 22 September 2009. The report recaps the key issues and principles that have informed the review and then sets out recommendations for the reform of the law relating to private schools in New Zealand. The main areas in which we make recommendations are the registration criteria and process, compliance and enforcement, suspensions and expulsions, distance learning and statutory architecture. The report is accompanied by a possible draft bill. Related to the Review of the law relating to private schools project.

Click here to access the Law Commission's report ".

Click here to access the NZEI page on Support Staff Pay talks.

Principals think national standards should be delayed so teachers can come to terms with next year's new curriculum. Ernie Buutveld, the president of the New Zealand Principals' Federation which represents 2300 principals, said delaying the standards would be a "great step forward".

It was too much to expect teachers to prepare for both the curriculum overhaul and the literacy and numeracy standards set by the Government, he said.

Click here to see Jacqueline Smith , NZ Herald article of 18th September 2009 "Postpone national standards, say heads".

Click on the picture to access CONSTANZ (conference information).

On the eve of the Science Technicians' Conference, Teachers and Technicians in School Laboratories are being warned to ensure that their school complies with the Code of Practice.

The Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) Act controls the use, transportation storage and disposal of all hazardous substances in New Zealand. S33 of the Act provides that small scale use of hazardous substances for research and teaching is exempt from the provisions of the Act, provided the use occurs in a laboratory that meets the prescribed requirements.

The Ministry of Education clearly states2, “This exemption applies to school laboratories. Such laboratories, however, must comply with the "Hazardous Substances (Exempt Laboratories) Regulations 2001.”

This Code of Practice is applicable to the use of hazardous substances in all New Zealand schools, including independent schools, using hazardous substances for the teaching of science, technology or related subjects.

As such, schools should use the information in the Code of Practice in conjunction with other documentation. For example The Safety in Science. 2000: Ministry of Education, Wellington.

Schools are not obliged to follow this Code of Practice. However, if a school board chooses not to adopt the code of practice, then the board shall ensure that management of hazardous substances fully complies with all sections of Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act and Regulations. In addition, methods of compliance should be documented.

Click here to download a copy of the Code of Practice.

Primary and secondary teachers in New Zealand earn well below the OECD average, and thousands of dollars less than their Australian counterparts, a report says

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's Education at a Glance 2009 report compared the salaries of teachers in primary, lower secondary and upper secondary education, at a starting salary and after 15 years of experience.

The salary figures, in US dollars, were based on buying power parity, which eliminates price differences among countries.

Click here to see NZ Herald article "Teachers earn below OECD levels".

"Risk of regional airport disruption unacceptable

Press Release by Department of Labour at 2:56 pm, 03 Sep 2009

The Government will introduce legislation to address the threat of regional airport control towers being closed and services unnecessarily disrupted, Minister of Labour Kate Wilkinson announced today. The introduction of statutory rest and meal breaks created difficulties for some sectors in implementing the law, with the Airline Pilots Association (ALPA) unwilling to continue the flexible breaks system employed at regional airports.

"I had hoped that a sensible solution could be reached between ALPA and Airways Corporation but it's clear that this law is proving to be a sticking point. "To not act would result in the cancellation of at least nine regional return flights a week and the risk of further schedule disruptions in New Plymouth, Gisborne, Napier and Rotorua," Ms Wilkinson says.

"Pharmacies, schools, meat works and sole attendant operations such as petrol stations have also all raised concerns on how to implement the law. "Parliament certainly didn't intend for this law to create more problems than it solved.

"It would appear what was common sense in the past is no longer common sense under this legislation. The law is obviously too prescriptive to be workable and needs clarifying. "I will introduce an Amendment Bill this month that intends to provide more flexibility around the taking of breaks." ENDS

Click here to see the CTU press release on Rest Breaks".