Kia ora e te whānau

As NZPF works towards the launch date for the Primary Principals’ Bargaining Collective (PPBC), I want to acknowledge the courage of the NZPF Executive who have supported a significant innovation for principals.

Such courage cannot be underestimated. It is no easy thing to strike a path away from convention. I am particularly proud of their professionalism in leading positively.

The NZPF Executive has responded to the call from members to establish a bespoke voice at the bargaining table. The NZPF Executive recognise that not every principal wishes to be part of this new enterprise, nor do they insist on this. In any healthy democracy individuals have the right to choose who represents them. In the workplace this right is enshrined in the Employment Relations Act.

In establishing PPBC, NZPF has created an alternative to the single Union model. NZPF supports a modern and collaborative view of the principle of collectivism that underpins representation in the workplace. NZPF believes that a higher quality of outcome is generated when the two bargaining parties (PPBC and NZEI) work together with the interests of principals at heart. The capacity for two sector-based bargaining parties to negotiate and agree on priorities before going to the bargaining table is a strong design. We are in essence ‘stronger when we act together’. This is exactly what occurs in the bargaining for the Secondary Collective Agreement between PPTA and SPANZ.

It is pleasing to note that PPTA and SPANZ coexist in a professional, mature, and respectful relationship. The relationship is not always plain sailing but the initial beating of drums that occurred when SPANZ Union launched in 2007 has long since fallen away.  

Having PPBC and NZEI at the bargaining table together keeps both parties sharp and focused on the very best industrial outcomes for all principals. NZPF chose this approach because principal voice has been diluted within past bargaining. In the last bargaining round NZPF was not invited to contribute.

Going forward NZPF do not want to simply be consulted or subject to participation by invitation within NZEI’s bargaining process but rather be a legitimate party to the Collective and within bargaining so that the voice of principals has reach and presence.

Such an approach has its risks and rewards; risks include that PPBC would bear shared responsibility for the outcome of any bargaining round, and rewards include the shared satisfaction of working alongside NZEI to win better conditions for principals.

NZPF has purposely designed PPBC to enable principals, who wish to also be members of NZEI, the ability to do so. The law enables this. No person can exert ‘undue influence’ on another regarding Union membership. Workers are free to belong to any representative Union or more than one representative Union. PPBC represents an option for the many principals who want a stronger bargaining process to focus the industrial process on principals’ interests, an area of advocacy necessary given the vulnerable nature of principals in the employment construct and facing the constant challenge of being cast as the employer not an employee.

To this end NZPF is working towards a launch date of Monday 30 August when the PPBC website will go live. The website will communicate details of the PPBC’s goals, services, staff, timetable of work, comprehensive FAQs and e-sign up.

PPBC has been well costed and is fiscally viable. A real-world analysis of costs incurred by SPANZ who have significantly fewer members than that anticipated by PPBC has been completed. SPANZ provides excellent negotiating skills at the secondary principals’ bargaining table for their small fee ($11 per fortnight). With significantly more members than SPANZ and based on clear historical financial data, the NZPF executive is confident that the pricing of $9 per fortnight enables a strong offering.

In addition to the option of belonging to PPBC, NZPF strongly suggests that primary principals protect themselves within their employment relationship by enrolling in the Principals’ Advice and Support Scheme Limited (PASL). This legal insurance scheme is wholly owned by NZPF and does an outstanding job providing a comprehensive helpline and legal cover of up to $25,000 in instances where a principal requires legal support and representation. Over 1200 principals currently belong to this scheme.

NZPF is proud to be able to offer a suite of services to primary principals, in the professional, industrial, and legal spheres. PPBC and PASL are not compulsory, they are optional extras available to NZPF members. They create choice for principals, an opportunity that clearly has excited a significant number of members.

The NZPF Executive has worked hard to create opportunities for principals to be much better served in every sphere of their work. They are excited about the future of Collective Bargaining for principals and ultimately look forward to the PPBC bargaining team rolling up their sleeves in partnership with the NZEI team to face the Ministry of Education across the table and do their absolute best for all principals of Āotearoa New Zealand.

New NZPF Executive Member 

In light of Martyn Weatherill’s resignation from the NZPF Executive, I would like to thank him for his service and extend a warm welcome to Jen Rodgers, Principal at St Clair Primary School in Dunedin. Jen is the next highest polling candidate in the previous election and will serve to the conclusion of 2021. It is good to have another southerner in the mix and having previously served on NZPF, Jen is well poised to add value.  

Ngā manaakitanga

Perry Rush
perry@nzpf.ac.nz