Historic collective labor agreement primary education: the pay gap is closed
The pay gap – the difference in salary between primary school teachers and their secondary school colleagues – is a thing of the past. This is the most important measure in the new collective labor agreement for primary education. “My colleagues have campaigned for this for years, and personally this is the crowning glory of my work,” says AObdirector Thijs Roovers.
The Erasmus Bridge in Rotterdam, the Zuiderpark in The Hague, the Malieveld and dozens of other places throughout the country: in recent years they have been full of tens and tens of thousands of teachers and supporters from all education sectors. The message to the government was always: invest in education. And also end the pay gap between primary school staff and their secondary school colleagues.
'With this agreement, pay in primary and secondary education has become equal. Also for supporters, school leaders and the VSO'
And now the time has finally come: the pay gap is closed. With money from the coalition agreement, trade unions and employers have succeeded in raising pay in primary education to the level of secondary education. “With this agreement, pay in primary and secondary education has become equal”, says AObdirector Thijs Roovers. “Also for supporters. Also for the school leaders. And also for people in secondary special education.”
Roovers, who first acted on behalf of PO in Actie and later for the AOb fought against the pay gap, sees this collective labor agreement as the temporary crown on his work. “Of course there is still a lot to do. Such as smaller classes and less work pressure. And the shortage of school leaders and teachers has not been solved in one fell swoop with this collective labor agreement. But the head is off – I can be satisfied for a day.”
What does the Education Agreement mean for you? Watch the Monday, April 25 at 20.00 p.m AOb- webinar
According to Roovers, the greatest credit for this agreement does not belong to him and his then colleagues Jan van de Ven and Paul de Brouwer, with whom he started the issue of the pay gap years ago. “The greatest honor goes to all the teachers and supporters who have demonstrated over and over in the rain and mud. Without them this would never have been possible. And this proves once again that uniting and campaigning pays off. So I would say: Become a member† Because, as said, we are not there yet.”
Salary scales
The biggest question for teachers, school leaders and support staff at the moment is of course: how much will I improve myself. That question is complicated, because for this operation the entire salary system had to be overhauled. Roovers: “The salary scales of primary education have disappeared, everyone now falls under the scales of secondary education. And the steps – the steps in which the salary increases every year – are also different. It was a very complicated job.”
Puzzling
Anyone who wants to calculate his or her new salary can start puzzling with accompanying tables† The . also develops AOb an instrument where everyone can easily find out his or her new salary. That will be online early next week. And next Monday, April 25, the AOb a webinar about the consequences of the Education Agreement that has now been concluded.
'The salary increase will very often be a reason for cake with coffee. A small or a large'
“Not everyone improves significantly every month,” Roovers insists on expectation management. “It depends on what salary scale you are in, on which step and what position you hold.” But Roovers expects that the increase will very often be a reason for cake with coffee. A small or a large one. “Because everyone already receives a higher year-end bonus in any case. And the binding allowance is coming back.”
Year-end bonus
There is also good news for school leaders and supporters. Because the binding allowance will also return for school leaders and an extra monthly allowance will be added on top of this. Roovers: “For our colleagues in the field there will be an extra amount on top of the already higher year-end bonus.”
The details of the collective labor agreement here.† This collective labor agreement has a term from 1 January 2022 to 31 May 2022, it only contains the agreements from the coalition agreement of Rutte IV. All primary school staff will receive their salary increase retroactively in June. The trade unions and employers are now discussing the next collective labor agreement for primary education.
Members of the AOb will be able to express their views on the collective labor agreement agreements in a members poll next week. Not a member yet? be it now.
