Science Technicians, Science Assistants and Lab Managers
On Tuesday, 8 August 2023, employees covered by the Science Technicians’ Pay Equity Claim received their first payment at the new pay equity rates.
The settlement will result in pay increases between 10% and 38% and will see around 400 science technicians, mostly women, being valued and paid for the work they do in line with people working in male-dominated roles of equal value.
We hosted two webinars with Ministry Pay Equity team members designed for principals and those tasked with implementing the actions for pay equity implementation in schools. The recordings are now available to view in our Learning Library.
Implementing the settlement
Following the settlement of the claim, there are things schools and kura need to know and actions they need to take to ensure science technicians receive the benefits and new pay rates resulting from the settlement.
We have released several guidance documents on the implementation of the claim. You can view these documents on the Science Technicians pay equity pageopen_in_new on the Ministry of Education’s website.
Offering new Science Technicians positions
New employees being offered a role covered by the pay equity settlement must be offered employment based on the same remuneration and other terms and conditions of employment included in the pay equity settlement.
Accepting the offer of employment, which includes the benefit of the pay equity settlement, has the effect of barring the employee from raising their own claim in relation to pay equity.
Letters of offer, reflecting the Pay Equity settlement, are available in our recruitment section with the rest of our suite of letters of offer.
For further information on the pay equity claim settlement, including a copy of the settlement agreement’, please visit the Science Technicians pay equity pageopen_in_new on the Ministry of Education’s website.
Former employees
Former employees covered by the claim, who finished work on or before 31 May 2023 can lodge an application to receive their pay equity payment from the Ministry by completing the form through the link below.
Details on completing the form, and common questions about the payment to former employees, are also available through the link.
Form for former employees to request a pay equity paymentopen_in_new
Employees who finished employment on or after 1 June 2023 were paid as part of the 8 August 2023 payment.
Funding
All pay settled pay equity claims have, within the Terms of Settlement agreements, a commitment to ongoing funding.
Because these claims have been settled without going to a court for a legal determination, the parties must commit to ensuring that the pay equity rates of pay do not fall behind again. Schools will continue to receive funding and are expected to use this funding for the remuneration of the affected employees.
Questions a principal could ask
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Are all our science support staff positions up to date with position (job) descriptions?
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When a science support staff employee resigns, do we review the requirements for the role, so we know it will be (a) fit for purpose and (b) is appropriately graded before we begin recruitment and advertise the vacancy?
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Have we got a process in place to manage the “progression within grades” clauses of the Collective Agreement?
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Have we communicated this with staff?
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Are we meeting our obligation to inform a science support staff employee two months prior to their progression falling due, that they are not performing and will not receive an increase?
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What steps do we need to take if we do identify a science support staff employee is not performing or meeting the expected standards?
Templates, resources, and references
Click on the link(s) below to access the templates, resources, and references related to this topic.
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