Community preschool staff represented by the Independent Education Union rallied in Lismore this morning calling on the NSW government to fund fair pay rises in the lead-up to its June budget.
Scores of early childhood teachers and educators, parents, children and supporters, dressed in pink, gathered in Lismore’s Spinks Park, then marched to The Quad for a rally and speeches from local preschool teachers and parents.
Hundreds of community preschool staff and supporters rallied in Sydney at the same time.
‘Preschool teachers and educators need the NSW government to boost funding for community preschools in the June budget so they can be paid fairly for providing high-quality education,’ said IEUA NSW/ACT Branch Acting Secretary David Towson.
The union and preschools have been calling on the NSW government for more than two years to fund pay rises that properly value the work of preschool staff.
‘Community preschools are overwhelmingly staffed by women and there has long been a gender-based undervaluation of our work,’ said Clunes Community Preschool teacher Melinda Gambley. ‘To start fixing this, community preschool staff need a 15 per cent pay rise.’
Umpire has spoken
In February, the Fair Work Commission (FWC) recommended that the NSW government review and boost funding for community preschools to lift pay and conditions for teachers and educators.
‘The umpire has spoken – we urge the NSW government to listen to the FWC’s recommendation for increased funding to fix acute staff shortages caused by inadequate pay and conditions in community preschools,’ Towson said.
Staff in community preschools earn up to 30 per cent less a year than their counterparts in schools with similar qualifications and roles, and 15 per cent less than staff in long day care centres.
Community preschools are staffed by professional and experienced teachers and run by volunteer committees of parents whose only priorities are children’s education and safety.
Byron Bay Preschool teacher Bridget Isichei said, ‘Teachers, educators, children, parents and the community all benefit from a strong preschool sector.’
Funding for community preschools is derived solely from the NSW government and parent fees. In a cost-of-living crisis, it is essential that preschools avoid fee increases.
‘After months of negotiating, the NSW government has still not committed to a funding increase,’ Towson said. ‘Without an increase in NSW government funding to lift pay and conditions, community preschools may be forced to cap enrolments because of staff shortages or increase fees for families.’
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