The ruling confirmed that next year’s annualisation arrangements for all school support staff will begin on 1 February 2017.
The judgment was made after NZEI Te Riu Roa sought to bring the first payment of the year forward to 18 January 2017 for their members.
Mr Sheppard, head of the Ministry’s education infrastructure service, says he welcomes the Employment Court judgment.
“February 1 is in line with the current collective agreement, and will provide certainty for school support staff next year,” he says.
“We really value the important work school support staff do. This judgment will allow them to be able to continue to focus on that work, supporting students with their learning.”
There will be a pay period in January 2017 in which staff in NZEI whose pay is annualised will not receive a payment.
This is the situation the Ministry was trying to avoid, and why annualised payments were initially structured across 27 pay periods for the 2016/17 year.
All support staff will still be paid what they are entitled to over the course of a year.
Enquiries to: media@education.govt.nz