Josephine Hunt, Canberra
More than two years after their claim for a wage increase first went before the Industrial Relations Commission, qualified childcare workers in Victoria and the ACT were delivered a pay rise of up to $82.20 per week in a January 13 decision.
The document issued by the commission supported linking the award pay rates of certificate III and diploma qualified childcare workers with equivalent trade rates in the Metal Industry Award. This will result in increases of $64.50 per week for Certificate III workers and $82.20 for those with a diploma in children's services. In the ACT, this will take the weekly wages of these workers (on commencement) to $616.50 and $684.40 respectively.
Unqualified workers, however, make up a significant proportion of the industry. This is especially true in the corporate sector, and those without qualifications are unlikely to get more than a few dollars per week extra. Their current rate is $474.60 per week, or $12.49 an hour, which means the childcare industry will still include many of the lowest paid workers in Victoria and the ACT.
The commission recognised that "childcare work is demanding, stressful and intrinsically linked to the public good". It also noted that "the conceptualisation of children's services has changed over time from one of child minding or child care to one of early child development, learning, care and education" and that "the available research also suggests that money directed to the early years of children's development results in positive long-term outcomes and is cost effective". However, none of this is reflected in adequate pay rates.
Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union meetings of childcare workers were held after the decision to discuss its implications. Although the union originally proposed a $30-per-week pay rise for unqualified workers, there is no plan at this stage to challenge the lack of an adequate increase for these workers.
The commission's decision is a historic win for childcare workers and goes some way towards recognising the long-neglected value of this overwhelmingly female-dominated industry. Further battles must be fought, however, to raise the standing and accompanying remuneration of the entire industry.
[Josephine Hunt is a childcare worker in the ACT]
From 91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳ Weekly, January 26, 2005.
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