Union wants more pay for childcare workers

The union representing childcare workers is lodging an application for more pay for Australia's 68,000 early childhood educators.

The equal remuneration order application will be lodged with the Fair Work Commission on Monday, seeking equal pay for childcare workers as for employees in other areas with similar skills, United Voice says.

"This application for equal pay is about quality - making sure we have high quality, professional educators to educate and care for the next generation of young Australians," United Voice president Michael Crosby said in a statement.

He said early childhood educators are among the country's lowest paid workers, getting as little as $19.07 an hour.

"Our application is for appropriate increases which take into account educational levels and professional skills of staff," he said.

The application would amount to increases of about $10 an hour for childcare workers with a certificate III, or the most basic level of qualifications.

He said a fund approved by parliament in June providing pay increases of $3 per hour for 40 per cent of early childhood workers until June 2015 was a good start but didn't go far enough.

"Without equal pay the exodus of staff will continue and the crisis will worsen. That's why, as a society, we must put children first," he said.

"United Voice calls on all political parties to support this application.

Source: http://finance.ninemsn.com.au/newsbusiness/aap/8689571/union-wants-more-pay-for-childcare-workers

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