The United Workers Union, Australian Education Union and Independent Education Union have jointly filed for the first national multi enterprise agreement for early childhood educators on the first day of the new bargaining laws.
This is the first application of its kind in Australia, only made possible through new Multi-Employer Bargaining Laws which came into effect on 6 June 2023.
The proposed multi-enterprise agreement calls for a 20% increase and covers 60 employers and 12,000 Early Childhood Education workers.
This is HUGE. The news laws will make a huge difference to women working in undervalued industries like early childhood education.
Djarra Liotta-Ndiaye, Educator and UWU Delegate, said “I’m proud to be a part of the first group of workers to use the new Multi-Employer Bargaining laws. Educators like me have been campaigning for liveable wages and quality early education for years. The sector has been grossly underpaid for many years and we’re now chronically understaffed".
“It’s time to pay educators what they’re worth and build the sustainable early education sector that children and families deserve.”
If you work in Early Childhood Education it's well and truly time to JOIN YOUR UNION and start making history!