Desperate learning support workers are struggling to pay mortgages and put food on their tables after a “harsh” move by the Ministry of Education to cut their wages by 10%.
The pay cut came as workers fighting the ministry over an offer of a 0% pay rise launched industrial action.
A person from Otago working in the sector, who the Otago Daily Times has agreed not to name, said the ministry’s response to the industrial action amounted to “bullying” and left already underpaid workers struggling to get by.
“Because of the pay deductions, members are struggling to pay mortgages, put food on the table and are having to cash in annual leave to make ends meet.”
However, they said the workers would continue to fight for a better deal.
“Despite the significant financial penalties, fear-mongering and bullying, members are still fighting — not for money, respect or recognition, but because … ultimately it is the children who suffer,” the worker said.
Learning support staff affected included service managers, behaviour and communication support workers, field staff, speech-language therapists, early intervention teachers, occupational therapists, psychologists, kaitakawaenga (mediators) and advisers on deaf children, they said.
The ministry denied its actions amounted to bullying and said its focus was the delivery of support to children, and their response “reflected the nature of the industrial action”.
The standoff has been brewing since July 22 when ministry learning support workers, represented by two unions, — the New Zealand Educational Institute Te Riu Roa (NZEI) and the Public Service Association (PSA) — walked off the job and began industrial action after receiving a “less than nothing” collective agreement offer.
They were offered a 0% pay increase, removal of clauses protecting flexible working arrangements and the removal of protections against restructuring.
Workers then began a month-long “work-to-rule”.
In a work-to-rule, union members worked only their contracted hours, took full breaks, did not pick up any additional work, no new cases were started and no children were taken off waiting lists.
The Otago worker said before work-to-rule began, the ministry quickly revised its offer.
The new deal offered a 0% pay increase, but included retaining the rights to flexible working and protections against restructuring. The offer was again declined.
“Because that offer wasn’t accepted, [the ministry] deducted 10% of our pay for the duration of the work-to-rule,” the worker said.
NZEI had filed an injunction to stop the deductions, however this was denied.
A hearing was granted by the Employment Court, but the date was then pushed back from October to December.
The 10% deduction in wages “backed us into a corner”, they said.
Ministry of Education acting hautū (leader) corporate Anne Marie Taggart rejected the characterisation of the deductions as “bullying”.
“The ministry applied a 10% pay deduction only to field staff and service managers whose union had formally notified a ban on accepting new cases.
“It was not based on hours worked but reflected the nature of the industrial action.”
The intent was to respond lawfully and proportionately to notified strike activity, while maintaining essential services for children and young people, she said.
“We value the work of our staff and remain committed to constructive dialogue and are actively working toward a fair and sustainable resolution that supports both our workforce and the communities we serve.
“Our priority remains the uninterrupted delivery of support to all children.”