Worries for wage boost

There are concerns from early childhood teachers that a public funding increase won’t go into their wages. The $151.1 million funding boost kicked in yesterday via a 2.3 per cent increase to education and care service rates — earmarked to improve the pay of up to 17,000 qualified teachers. NZEI Te Riu Roa National Secretary Paul Goulter says teachers are worried the money will go to maintenance and private corporations’ bottom lines.