You know that last pay rise you received? Well, what would you say to your boss if they asked you to pay it back now – just two and half weeks before Christmas?
Yeah. That. Not sure we could print our reaction here without disappointing our parents.
But that’s the situation facing the staff of 1100 childcare centres around Australia today.
Back in May, the Gillard Govenement awarded workers with a Certificate 111 qualification, an extra $3 dollars an hour, and those with a teaching qualification, an extra $6 an hour.
Today the Abbott Government has announced that they want workers to pay that money back.
MERRY CHRISTMAS.
The money was provided via a $300 million fund, set up for the next two years. During which time, the Fair Work Commission would undertake a study to determine whether the rates of pay in the sector were too low.
After a long and successful campaign, many in the sector were fearful that an Abbott Government would overturn this decision and take the funds as savings. These fears seemed unfounded when it was promised that all existing commitments would be guaranteed by a newly elected Prime Minister and his team.
But it wasn’t to be. A decision to re-direct the funds into professional development was announced.
This shows a complete lack of understanding of the current nature of the child care sector. One that has undergone an unprecedented period of professionalisation in the last six years.
As if that’s not bad enough. The Government decided to ask staff to pay back the money already received under the existing agreement.
Incredible…Who the hell is running this show? Can you imagine a decision like that, being taken in a commercial business? You’d be laughed at, and rightly so.
It’s devastating that early childhood education and care has become a political battleground. Governments of all persuasions see this as a “hot” button issue. They devise policy, deliver rebates and develop guidelines. Because they want you to vote for them.
And they succeed, because they play on the emotion of the issue.
Think about it, each morning, you drop off your most precious possession to a child care centre. The staff are expected to care for, educate and comfort your child. A role, almost impossible to put a price on.
For too long poor rates of pay have been justified because the workforce is made up predominately of women. These women are often mothers themselves and see the work they do as a privilege. A fact used to exploit the workforce for far too long.
Opponents to a pay rise for sector, think nothing of paying these people less than they would pay a cleaner.
Today’s call for childcare workers to pay back a much deserved pay rise, is one of the most audacious things we have ever seen a Government do. It’s an epic case of giving a gift… and then asking for it right back.
It makes a mockery of the work that these professionals do on a daily basis. The sector has undergone major improvements in recent times and these achievements should be applauded.
The major focus, has been to make sure that no matter where you live, your child, has access to good quality early childhood education and care.
The reason? All the available evidence, confirms that children between the ages of 0-5, benefit most from access to a program of early childhood education and care.
Rest assured we are not talking about a flashcard program for the gifted and talented, or compulsory violin lessons. These programs are aimed at better preparing kids before they enter the classroom. They teach a child to hold a pair of scissors, sit on the ground to listen to a story or to follow the direction of a “teacher”.
But for it to work, every child needs to be able to access the service. And a big part of making this happen, is a recognition of the professional nature of staff. They do a very important job.
Pay is one of the biggest barriers to attracting and retaining staff. Centres need to be able to train, attract and retain staff in the sector to deliver these programs.
It’s astonishing that we are still debating whether or not, those that educate and care for our children need current, relevant qualifications and pay that reflects the service they provide.
A country as lucky as we are, needs to make sure that future generations, have the ability to benefit from the opportunities we create for them today. Not allow them to be used as a political football, to win over a much desired demographic of the Australian population. Women.
Do you think the staff that care for your child are paid appropriately? Share this post so show your support for workers that deserve a much needed pay rise.
Top Comments
My wife is a childcare Director,
Although I think she should get paid more for the responsibility she carries , I do not believe it should be taxpayers money being used.
The wages need to be negotiated through the Fair Work Commission or directly with Employers.
The Labor party was unashamedly using the childcare Industry to set up a Union cash cow (slush fund), shamelessly telling them if they unionize the taxpayers cash will be handed out. And those who don't unionize??
Also the Labor party legislating that all Child care workers need Uni degrees is ridiculous , there are thousands of women in their 30's and 40's who would be great part time or casual child care workers but now can't unless they are prepared to get a degree.
The old system with only supervisors needing a degree was sufficient (and cheaper for families).
1) Since the 1990s enterprise agreements are no longer required to involve a union. They can be made bilaterally between employers and staff and in the childcare sector union membership is lower than average membership levels across the economy. Therefore its not necessarily unionised workers that would have benefited from the scheme and thus the program was not necessarily a slush fund.
2) Yes ONE union was pressuring childcare workers to unionise by emphasising that to be on the receiving end of the scheme you must be unionised. However, there are another four unions in the sector that didn't engage in this kind of behaviour. One unions dodgy behaviour is not representative of the govts or other unions.
3) The quality of child care in Australia is well below that of other developed nations and research has shown that a lack of qualified staff is a contributing factor. Not to mention higher staff turnover due to dissatisfaction with the low pay.
Childcare workers get paid enough already, how about increasing the pay of nurses and ambulance staff instead, the one's who DON'T actually get paid enough
Really? We get paid enough? Wow! Must of missed that moment. As the HIGHEST qualified rate I can be in my industry I get paid less then the unqualified, untrained stackers of shelfs in supermarkets. I don't doubt the wonderful job nurses do and yes they deserve to be paid more but so do we. Or else if or when you have children don't whine that they are being TEACHED by a teenager who while qualified has no experience and does not know how to teach or control her class....
Supermarket stackers and childcare workers are completely different industries so they cannot be compared. If someone chooses to send their child to childcare that is their decision and if they don't like the job that someone is doing there they aren't obligated to keep their child there.
And not paid enough? I know someone who is fully qualified and earns a $1000 a week, that's $200 less than a senior worker at Telstra, give or take the area of expertise. They are definitely paid enough and if you're not you're obviously working for the wrong person or company.
Lol I think that person is lying to you. Been in industry 13 years and nobody I know in many companies are paid that much....
Pay slips don't lie, sorry.