In a school or kura we are the people that work alongside teachers and principals doing work that is essential.​​ We support ākonga in the classroom, manage school offices and administration, libraries and science labs, maintain school grounds and much more – our work is made up of many threads.​ ​As a group of workers, we are often undervalued. But can change this!​ ​Together we are building power to win improvements to our collective agreement – with fair pay, job security and the professional learning and development we need – the essentials!​

Gender based undervaluation has been established and bargaining for the claim will begin soon!

The Pay Equity claim for librarians and library assistants was raised by NZEI Te Riu Roa in November 2020. Investigation of the claim began in October 2021 and was completed in September of this year. Through this process, a gender neutral assessment of claimants and comparators was undertaken. The results of this investigation showed that school librarians have been subject to gender based undervaluation and the claim will now proceed to bargaining.