10. ANNE TOLLEY (National—East Coast) Link to this
to the Minister of Education
Does he have confidence in the Ministry of Education; if so, why?
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA (Acting Minister of Education) Link to this
Yes; but I am sure the ministry, like all of us, can always do better.
Does the Minister think it is fair to sign an agreement with the union that gives its primary school teacher members 4 months of back-pay, whereas the ministry signed individual employment agreements with the remaining primary school teachers that give them only 2 months of back-pay?
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA Link to this
There were five themes in those awards. Certainly, there were complex issues that were different, and the Government will continue to look into the matter.
Hon Mark BurtonTo return to the actual question, can the Minister tell the House how, through the Ministry of Education, this Labour-led Government has delivered for New Zealanders?
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA Link to this
On 27 March the Prime Minister launched the Schools Plus discussion document. Schools Plus will give students greater flexibility and a wider range of options. It is what the Government is doing in order to make sure that all our young people have the ability to reach their full potential. A wide-ranging engagement process is under way.
Why are primary school teachers feeling pressured by the Ministry of Education to join a union and be part of a collective agreement if they want to get more back-pay, and therefore more money?
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA Link to this
They are not subject to any type of pressure, but I tell the member that in the most recent pay round changes in five collective agreements were implemented, covering 30,000 teachers and principals. The ministry reports that in the past week it has received 200 inquiries about payments and that 99.5 percent of the staff are being paid correctly. The ministry is working with schools and the payroll provider to improve the system.
Why did the Ministry of Education issue individual employment agreements that stated that employees had to return their contracts by 5 p.m. yesterday if they wanted to receive even the 2 months of back-pay, when some teachers received their contract only at 12.30 p.m. yesterday, which meant they had fewer than 5 hours to read and consider their employment agreement before the offer of back-pay was totally withdrawn?
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA Link to this
I need more—[ Interruption] It is not fair to comment on that, but certainly it is more notice than other people get. I would wonder about that member’s truthfulness.
Rt Hon Winston Peters Link to this
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. Why is a member over here entitled to have her question heard largely in silence, yet when the Minister comes to answer it there is an awful barrage back here, with no control whatsoever or leadership being shown as to who can interject? Nobody minds if interjections are rare and reasonable, but when we have the better part of 20 people doing it all at once, it is just a waste of Parliament’s time.
Madam SPEAKERI thank the member. I have noticed that each time the Minister has been called there has been barracking even before he has attempted to answer the question. So I ask members to please show respect to their colleague.
Does the Minister think it is fair for an individual employee agreement to state: “The employee acknowledges she has had reasonable opportunity to seek advice.”, when teachers are told that unless they sign and submit the contract in less than 5 hours’ time, they will not get 2 months of back pay?
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA Link to this
That is an industrial matter between the employee and the employer. Certainly, the Labour Government has increased the funding for education by a whopping 72 percent. This huge additional investment has enabled us since 1999 to introduce 20 hours’ free early childhood education for 3 and 4-year-olds; to increase teachers’ pay by 40 percent; to employ more than 5,000 additional teachers, over and above roll growth; and to build 34 new schools and 1,500 new classrooms. That is how we are getting on with the business.
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. It was interesting to hear what the Minister had to say, but could he address my question, which asked whether it was fair for that individual employee agreement—
I thank the member; I understand the point. From what I could hear, the Minister did address the question. I can only assume that there are members in this House who were not interested in hearing the question be addressed. So I ask members, for the last time, to show respect to their colleague. Otherwise, there will be sections leaving the Chamber.