The Greens say Labor’s bill falls short of delivering genuine wage justice for early childhood educators but have, nonetheless, supported the bill recognising it as a step in the right direction.
The Greens put forward amendments that would have raised early childhood educator wages by 25 percent and ensured an ongoing pay rise beyond the bill’s two-year limit – both of which Labor rejected.
As stated by Early Childhood Education and Care spokesperson Greens Senator Steph Hodgins-May:
“Labor voted down a 25 percent pay rise for early childhood educators. It’s disappointing that the Government couldn’t support the Greens’ amendment to give early years educators pay parity to teachers.
“Early childhood educators and their unions have fought long and hard for a pay rise – and it’s thanks to their tireless efforts that the Government is finally starting to value the essential work they do. The Greens congratulate educators on securing this win, even if Labor’s offer remains woefully inadequate.
“Let’s call a spade a spade: This is not a pay rise; this is a two-year pay bump. It’s absolutely clear that this Bill does not go far enough.
“This Government had an opportunity to bring early childhood educators closer to pay parity with primary and secondary schools and deliver the 25 percent pay rise unions have been calling for. Instead, Labor is giving early childhood educators a two year wage bump.
“Let’s not forget that this is a workforce that is overwhelmingly comprised of women, who continue to take home less than two-thirds of the average weekly adult wage. Even with the Government’s proposed 15 percent pay bump, early childhood educators will still be underpaid.
“Australia’s early childhood education system is in crisis and requires urgent reform. The sector needs 21,000 additional early childhood educators just to meet sustainable staffing levels – and many more are needed to meet future demand.
“What Labor needs to realise is that we can’t fix our childcare system with half-hearted measures. If we want high-quality universal early years education and care in Australia, we must build a sustainable workforce, which requires investing in our educators. A two year wage bump won’t cut it.
“As long as the Albanese Government continues to undervalue and underpay our early childhood educators, childcare centres will continue to struggle to fill thousands of positions, as educators continue to find better-paid jobs elsewhere.
“If Labor is serious about addressing pay inequality in feminised industries, it must go further, and provide educators with the certainty that the Government will fully fund an ongoing pay rise and the Fair Work decision.
“The Greens will continue to push early years educators to be properly paid for doing the most important work imaginable – educating and caring for our kids. We remain ready to work with Labor to deliver real wage justice and to make early childhood education free and accessible for all.”
