Dear Minister Hipkins,

Teacher aides, admin, other support staff and Kaiarahi i te Reo are on the front line of student support. They are the glue that holds our schools together. From the office, to the library and the classroom, quality teaching and learning couldn't happen without them. 

However, despite their considerable skills and responsibilities, this mainly female workforce is poorly paid and most have no certainty of employment or hours from one year to the next - 90% of teacher aides earn less than the Living Wage of $21.15, even with many years of experience. 

Teacher aides have been waiting for pay equity for three years. Admin staff are still waiting for an agreed timeline for their pay equity claim. This is not good enough.  

What we want: 

Teacher aides need a pay equity settlement by Christmas.

Admin and other staff need a concrete timeline for their pay equity claims.

If we want Aotearoa to be the best place in the world to be a child, we need to value those who work closest with them.

Support staff have waited long enough for a fair go. Please Minister, make this happen now.