Coast early childhood educators strike for better pay
ABOUT 50 Sunshine Coast early childhood educators have walked off the job today as part of unprecedented national action to demand the Federal Government fund equal pay for the sector.
Sunshine Coast-based early childhood educator and United Voice member Pam Maybury said she would join with more than 6000 educators taking part in rolling closures across the country.
"As qualified professionals, we deserve fair pay, yet early educators currently earn around $21 per hour - only half the national average wage," Ms Maybury said.
"We gave Malcolm Turnbull a deadline of 1 February to fund the professional pay we deserve, but once again he has let us down.
"We're sick of asking nicely. We've been left with no choice but to walk off on March 27.
"We are pleased to have the support of parents in our community who are keeping their children at home."
Reader poll
Do you support an increase in pay for early childhood educators?
This poll ended on 03 April 2018.
Current Results
Yes, it's vital for children that those professionals are paid well.
70%
No, they get paid enough for what they do.
30%
They should be paid more, but also should have more formal training.
0%
This is not a scientific poll. The results reflect only the opinions of those who chose to participate.
United Voice Queensland President Sharron Caddie said the responsibility to fund fair pay for early educators was in the Turnbull Government's court.
"This is the Turnbull Government's problem and they need to fix it - a responsible government would have fixed this already," Ms Caddie said.
"Until that happens, our educators will only get louder in the fight for equal pay."
The action comes as the third early childhood walk off in the past year, with double the number of educators walking off nationally compared to previous walk offs in September last year.
The walk offs followed nation-wide advertising and awareness campaign encouraging parents to keep their children at home on March 27.
