Rally: Big Steps Day in Melbourne.

Saturday, November 17

Big Steps is the campaign to win professional wages in the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector. It is led by members of United Voice, the ECEC union, who work as teachers, directors, educators and workers in ECEC. The sector is in crisis, with 180 educators leaving the sector each week due to low wages and conditions. The solution is higher wages, but we know parents and employers can't afford to pay more. That is why we are calling on the federal government to make up the shortfall between award and professional wages in ECEC, to the tune of $1.4 billion in recurrent funding. A 'professional wage' is akin to that of a tradesperson who holds the same level of qualification as someone working in ECEC. Currently, an educator with a Certificate III earns just $18.58 per hour. 11am-2pm. Parliament House steps, Spring St followed by family festivities at Treasury Gardens on Wellington Parade.