Bedrock#2 2021

Union wins pay rise for early childhood teachers Early childhood teachers across Australia paid under the modern award will receive a pay rise of up to 10% thanks to a long legal campaign by the Independent Education Union of Australia (IEUA).

Eight years ago, the IEUA NSW/ACT Branch began two cases at the Fair Work Commission (FWC). One essentially argued that early childhood teachers were underpaid because the sector is female dominated. The other application argued that the modern award undervalued the work of teachers.

While the gender undervaluation argument was dismissed by the Commission due to the restrictive nature of the legislation, they concluded “there have been substantial changes in the nature of the work of teachers and the level of their skills and responsibilities since 1996. This constitutes a significant net addition to their work value which has to be taken into account in the rates of the pay in the modern award”.

The pay rise of 5–10% will mainly benefit teachers in long day care centres and preschools without enterprises agreements under the modern award, but there is a scattering of school teachers employed on this award as well. Nationally, the decision will benefit approximately 12,000 teachers in about 8000 long day care centres.

There will be significantly higher increases for some teachers if they have responsibilities as educational leaders.

The FWC Full Bench found that “the exercise of professional skills and judgement, the overall work value, involved in early childhood teaching” was the same to that of school teachers.

“The rates of pay do not recognise that teachers are degree qualified professionals,” they said.

Values case IEUA NSW/ACT Branch Secretary Mark Northam said, “This is a significant win. The Commission has recognised the increasing value and importance of the work of all teachers, but particularly early childhood teachers.”

During the proceedings, the IEUA NSW/ACT Branch supplied a number of key witnesses, including Borilla Community Kindergarten Teacher/ Director and member of the IEU-QNT Branch 14 | Bedrock | issue 2 | Vol 26 | 2021