Compare the pair:

Why we need a good outcome from the equal pay case

It’s obvious that the low pay is due to the profession being seen historically as ‘women’s work’ and not given the respect it deserves.

IEUA’s equal pay case will be before the Fair Work Commission in July. The case argues that early childhood teachers are paid less than teachers in schools and other comparable professions, because they are mainly women.

The case relies on evidence from many witnesses: early childhood professionals describe their roles, and those from other professions also outline their roles, for the purposes of comparison.

One such witness is James Jenkins-Flint. James is now an organiser for the IEUA NSW/ACT Branch, but for the previous 11 years he was a primary school teacher.

James, 35, took an arts degree at the University of NSW and then went on to do a Masters of Teaching at The University of Sydney in 2004. He worked at three separate primary schools in Sydney before joining the IEU as an organiser. His salary during his last year as a primary teacher was $95,466.

Let’s compare James to Emma Cullen, a member of the IEUA NSW/ACT Branch’s Early Childhood Council.

Emma, 36, took a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education with Honours at Macquarie University and has also obtained a Masters in Educational Leadership, and a Graduate Certificate in Autism from Wollongong University.

During her 13 year teaching career she has worked at two early childhood centres, with most of her time spent at a community based centre in Sydney’s inner west.

She is now a director, but the average teacher with around 11 years experience, in a long day care centre without an enterprise agreement, earns approximately $69,543.

James said the female dominance in primary schools is a recent phenomenon, and historically many men worked in primary, possibly leading to the pay disparity.

“I had a close friend whose father was a primary teacher, retiring in the 90s. He said during the 60s and 70s many men taught in primary schools, and were able to support their families on their income. I don’t think this has ever been the case in early childhood education,” he said.

“It’s obvious that the low pay in early childhood teaching is due to the profession being seen historically as ‘women’s work’ and not given the respect it deserves.”

Emma said early childhood teaching had been regarded as “nice ladies who look after children” with no comprehension of the crucial role of early childhood education in a child’s development, or the importance of a university qualified teacher in that role.

“These misunderstandings about early childhood education flow on to the respect that we receive as well as the pay.”

“I hope the outcome of this case can go some way to address both these issues.”

Listen to IEUA NSW/ACT Branch Industrial Officer Verena Heron on the Early Education Show (podcast) talking about the Equal Remuneration Case: https://earlyeducationshow.podbean.com/e/55-the-equal-remuneration-case-with-verena-heron/