Now teacher aides

Teacher aides and other school support staff began two weeks of more than 200 nationwide paid union meetings yesterday to discuss plans for collective agreement negotiations, with pay equity settlements high on the agenda. NZEI Te Riu Roa president Lynda Stuart said members were determined to finally see a genuine improvement to pay, conditions and job security. “Support staff are the glue that hold our schools together. Quality teaching and learning can’t happen without them, and they are long overdue improved pay and conditions that recognise their skills and their value to our students,” she said. Issues included pay increases, allowances and study leave.