A decision by five Victorian councils to reject a federal government grant to increase the pay of early childhood workers led to a protest outside the Knox Council meeting on Monday 8 September.
Workers dressed in costumes to keep their identities secret gathered with a union representative to object to Knox Council’s decision to pass on the grant.
Alongside Knox, the five Victorian councils, including Banyule, Bendigo, Hume, and Wangaratta, have come under scrutiny for their refusal to participate in the Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) Worker Retention Payment Grant, a federal government initiative designed to support and retain early childhood educators.
“This is a real slap in the face to workers who look after the most important people in our lives, kids,” Australian Services Union deputy branch secretary Zoe Edwards said.
“They perform women’s work, and as such, are paid very poorly. They, on average, earn $65 to $70,000.
“That’s why people came out, at some risk to their own employment.”
The ECEC Worker Retention Payment Grant offer runs for two years and would fund a 15 per cent wage increase above modern award rates, along with a minimum additional 20 per cent funding for eligible on-costs (calculated against their base funding).
The payment is a temporary measure while the Fair Work Commission (FWC) finalises its gender undervaluation priority awards review to determine whether the industry has been subject to gender-based undervaluation, and if so, by how much to raise award rates.
A condition of receiving the grant requires that councils not increase fees for the duration of the grant.
Ms Edwards said workers would prefer the council to apply and give it a go rather than not even try.
“We think it’s pretty short-sighted for the council to think this is temporary. And even if it is temporary, even if it is only a two-year program, that’s two years worth thousands of dollars to these workers,” she said.
“The workers are going in with their eyes open that the money might not continue beyond two years, and they’re willing to accept that risk.”
As to why the council did not apply, a spokesperson said the council reviewed the grant and, after carefully considering staff feedback and requesting further investigation, decided that Knox would not be applying due to significant uncertainties surrounding the funding calculations and other concerns.
“Council supports and recognises the need for an increase to the industry award, which is why we have consistently paid our educators above the award under the Knox City Council Enterprise Agreement,” the spokesperson said.
“(Concerns) include the unequal application of the grant across our Early Childhood Education and Care workforce, a cap on fee growth and the temporary nature of the grant.”
Ms Edwards said workers will be back at the bargaining table for a new enterprise agreement next year, so discussions will continue, but at this stage, it “doesn’t make these workers feel good or optimistic about their wage outcomes for next year”.
