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Childcare bosses delay pay increaseDate: 07 March 2005
A small number of private childcare employers are trying, in a last minute stratagem, to delay an historic pay increase for Victorian and ACT low-paid childcare workers. " The more than 18,000 childcare workers deserve this pay increase," Jo-anne Schofield, LHMU Childcare Union National Assistant Secretary, said today. " However at a Full Bench hearing of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission today this small group will seek to undermine the pay increase and build in more delays." No backroom dealsIt is understood the private sector childcare employers will inform the Commission at hearings in Sydney that they've asked for special meetings with Federal Government representatives, including the Treasury and the Department of Family and Community Services." The Federal Government should not contemplate backroom deals with employers who are happy to keep these key workers on $12 an hour pay packages. " Any decisions about childcare workers pay should be transparent, using the legitimate offices of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission - not the dark Canberra backrooms of Ministers, politicians and their advisers," Ms Schofield said. " It has taken childcare union members nearly three years to get this decision. The private sector employers have resisted fair wages at every step. " The historic pay increase delivers a minimum $64.50 per week extra for a qualified childcare worker and a minimum of $82.20 per week for a diploma certified childcare professional. Inviting Pru Goward's supportThe LHMU will contact the Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Ms Pru Goward, to ask her to step in and ensure transparency and decency for these low-paid women professionals." Ms Goward has spoken up before for childcare workers and their important role in modern Australian society. " We hope she will use her influence with the Prime Minister and the Treasurer to ensure the pay win for childcare workers does not slip through their fingers like sand from a playground castle," Ms Schofield said. Wage justice will also help end the childcare queues" Union members are angry that it's only the wealthy private sector operators who are bleating about this decision." By contrast, many community-based centres have reacted enthusiastically because they know that quality care relies upon quality staff and quality pay. Some community services have even begun paying staff the increases. " All our efforts should be directed towards getting the pay increases in place. Instead we are being distracted by a few private sector employers who want to delay wage justice". " The long queues for childcare places are created in large part because centres cannot find enough qualified workers who are prepared to work for such low wages." Final hearings for the new childcare worker pay rate are scheduled to go back to the Full Bench of the AIRC in Melbourne on March 31. It is expected that the decision will be completed soon after these hearings. The LHMU proudly represents around 130,000 hard working women and men throughout AustraliaFor further details:Jo-anne Schofield, LHMU Child Care Union National Assistant Secretary 8204 7231 or 042 524 2684
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© 1997-2002 LaborNET is a resource for the labour movement provided by the Labor Council of NSW 10th Floor, 377-383 Sussex Street, Sydney NSW 2000 Ph: (02) 9264 1691 Fax: (02) 9261 3505 http://www.labor.net.au/news/1110146133_8478.html Last Modified: Tuesday, 15-Nov-2005 18:35:21 EST
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