Hundreds of community pre-school early child educators rallied outside NSW Parliament on May 6 in a state-wide action, led by the Independent Education Union of Australia (IEAU) NSW, for better pay and working conditions.
Workers came from Wagga Wagga, Musselbrook, Blackheath and Newcastle attended the Gadigal Country/Sydney action and rallies were organised in Lismore and Coffs Harbour.
Community pre-school workers earn up to 30% less than their colleagues in schools, who have similar qualifications, and 15% less than their counterparts in long-day care centres.
The Fair Work Commission recommended in February that the NSW Labor government take “all necessary action, including reviewing and increasing funding to NSW preschools”.
The IEAU NSW/ACT Branch Acting Secretary David Towson said the NSW government needs to boost funding for community schools in the June budget. “Community preschool staff need a 15% pay rise. After months of negotiating the NSW government has still not committed to a pay rise.”
Jodie Cox, a community pre-school ambassador who had given evidence to the FWC, spoke. Independent NSW MPs Roy Butler, Joe McGirr, Greens MP Abigail Boyd and Liberal Party MP Felicity Wilson addressed the rally. No Labor MPs spoke.
The rally ended with union songs and a commitment to return to the streets if their demands are not met.
