Childcare workers left without pay

Date: 12 September 2003

Wealthy private child care chain has left hundreds of child care professionals without their weekly wage packet

Several hundred Victorian child care workers have not been paid their wages by one of the new high-flying private child care chains - ABC Centres, which operates more than 50 sites in Victoria.

" The non-payment of wages is creating a financial crisis for these low-paid workers," Victorian LHMU Child Care Union industrial officer, Ruth Frenzel, said today.

" While the boss of ABC Centres, Eddie Groves, crashed into the top 100 BRW Rich List, registering as the 4TH richest person in Australia with $146 million, his child care professional staff are only earning between $11.99 and $14.77 an hour.

" Our people often depend on the pay packet coming through on time, if they are to have food on the table by the end of the week.

" One member has already copped bank fees of $100 because of failed direct debits arising out of the non payment of wages.

" In just a few hours today we have had more than 30 calls from angry and aggrieved ABC child care workers.

" Our phones have been running hot. We are planning legal action to demand that these empty pay envelopes be filled straight away for LHMU child care union members - and that these workers be compensated for any financial losses.

" We've placed more than a dozen calls through to the ABC child care centre chains head office in Brisbane - but we've had no joy. Just an excuse about new operating procedures, " Ruth Frenzel said.

The LHMU proudly represents around 130,000 hard working women and men throughout Australia

For further info:

Ruth Frenzel , LHMU Victoria 03 9235 7777 or 0418 381 372

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