Early childhood teachers' pay talks paused

Early childhood teachers' pay talks have been put on hold because both the employer and the teachers' union say current government funding makes reaching a fair deal impossible. Part way through collective ECE employment negotiations, both ECE employers and the NZEI union want to jointly meet with the Education Minister to ask for more money.They say at the heart of the problem is an average pay gap of 23 % behind kindergarten and primary teachers with the same skills, qualifications and responsibilities. Next year that pay gap will go to 49 per cent. Kathryn talks to Wendy Logan who is an employer representative on the negotiations, and management adviser for a number of community ECEs; and Virginia Oakly who is the early childhood sector representative on the NZEI Te Riu Roa National Executive.