Day relievers

Considering becoming a day reliever?

The information below may be helpful to current and potential day relievers.

There is also information here from the MoE about becoming a day reliever:  https://workforce.education.govt.nz/current-teachers/returning-teaching/relief-teaching

Day relievers as employees

Employment agreement

Day relievers are employed on short term, casual agreements and are covered by the STCA (secondary schools) or the ASTCA (area schools).

Day relievers have an employment agreement with the school when the school asks you to do the work and you agree to do it, but it is better (and required by the ERA) that a written employment contract is exchanged between the school and you each time - this can be by email.

When you are employed, as a member you are covered by the terms of the collective agreement. You can check your membership status when subs are deducted from your pay.

While employed, day relievers have the same rights and protections under all relevant legislation as other teachers.

Pay

Day relievers can be employed in two ways:

By the day (STCA clause 4.4.4 (a), ASTCA clause 3.27.2a)

You can be asked to do a full day’s duty (including form time etc.) and are paid 1/190^th of your actual pay step, provided that the maximum salary is step 6 of the base scale – trained teachers or step 8 of the base scale – untrained teachers as applicable.

• The payment includes holiday pay.

By the hour (clause 4.4.4 (b), ASTCA clause 3.27.2b)

• You are paid for the hours you actually do, including non-timetabled duties you might want them to undertake.
• You must be paid for a minimum of two hours per day and if there is a break in duties of one and a half (1.5) hours or more, then you are paid an additional hour.

• You are paid 1/950^thof the lower of your actual pay step for each hour worked; provided that the maximum salary is step 6 of the base scale – trained teachers or step 8 of the base scale – untrained teachers (STCA) as applicable. 

• The payment includes holiday pay.

Be clear about whether you are being employed by the hour or by the day and what duties are expected in addition to classroom relief cover. These should be put in writing (this can be in an email) but at a minimum should be stated when the job is offered.

Increments

Day relievers move up to the next step on the salary scale after they have completed 190 days or 950 hours, subject to attestation by the school acting as your main employer.

STCA cl 4.2.3(d)(iv), ASTCA cl 3.27.6

Travel allowance

Day relievers can ask for assistance with their travel costs, which is either the cost of public transport to and from the school (whether you use it or choose to use your car) or, if you are asked to use your car or if there is no public transport available.

You would be paid at the mileage rate in Appendix D for every km above 20 km you travel on the day.

STCA cl 7.7.1 and Appendix D cl 1.6, ASTCA cl 6.7.1 and Appendix 1 cl 1.7. 

Sick leave entitlement

If you are sick on a day that you have been employed to relieve you can claim sick leave if you have sick leave entitlement left.

STCA cl 6.2.4, ASTCA cl 5.2.4 

I want to day relieve – do I need to do a Teacher Education Refresh Course?

Issues for relievers

Professional Growth Cycle, attestation and certification

Day relievers have to be certificated and require attestation if they are still progressing up the salary scale. Attestation and certification require that a school acts as an ‘employing school’ to do their attestation and endorse their certification.

Ask the school in which you do most relieving to be responsible for your professional growth cycle and attestation to ensure that you receive timely salary increments.

Good employer practice and day relievers

The requirement to act as a good employer applies to employment of day relievers.

Day relievers as PPTA members

Rights as a PPTA member

Day relievers should be asked if they wish to be PPTA members. The school should add you as a PPTA member.  When shifting to relief work you need to update your status with membership@ppta.org.nz. 

The school should advise the branch chairperson of who the day relievers are and let the day relievers know how to contact the branch chairperson.

Branches should ensure that you are welcomed as a member, that you know where to go for support and that you are supported in ensuring that you are receiving your contractual entitlements and also are provided with support and professional treatment.

You have the right to vote and to participate in PPTA activities, at branch, regional or national activities.

You are advised to ensure you are on the branch list at the main school you relieve in.

You have the right to assistance from the PPTA Field Officer in your region.

You will have a PPTA membership card and can access the membership discount schemes.

You have the right to receive national PPTA communications. Ensure Membership@ppta.org.nz have an updated email address for you. 

The subscription for day relieving members is 1% of any income earned from relieving. If you do not earn any income in any week there is no sub payment due for that week but you remain a member of PPTA. Make sure to check your payslip if you work at multiple schools. However, if a year elapses since your last sub payment your membership also lapses.