School Caretakers, Cleaners, Canteen and Groundstaff Collective Agreement

21 March 2025

The Ministry of Education has been negotiating with E tū to renew the School Caretakers, Cleaners, Canteen and Groundstaff Collective Agreement since early December last year.

On 21 March, the Ministry presented a revised offer to settle the agreement following feedback from Union members.

The key elements of the offer include:

• Three increases of 1.25%, 1% and 1% each year over a three-year term to the minimum printed rate for all cleaners, canteen staff and caretakers (except supervisors). This provides increases of 3.3% to these employees over three years.    
• Move to a minimum rate for all supervisor cleaners, canteen staff and caretakers based on a $1.50 flat rate differentiation for all supervisors compared to the pay rate for those staff they supervise. This provides increases of 3.1% to 9.4% to supervisors over three years, depending on their current step.    
• An increase to the overtime rate for cleaners and canteen staff from ordinary time and a quarter to ordinary time and a half. 
• An increase to the transport allowance rate from 59 cents per kilometre to 83 cents per kilometre. 
• Introduction of provisions covering work during school trips and school camps. 
• Extension of the Designated First Aider Allowance to all eligible employees and provision of safety boots to caretakers. 
• Improvements to the callback provisions to clarify that equivalent time off in lieu may be provided when a caretaker is contacted by phone for a work-related matter but is not required to return to school.  

The proposed Terms of Settlement, including other elements of the offer, can be found here.

This offer was rejected by the Union.

A copy of the previous offer can be found here.