The IEUA submitted a comprehensive submission to the Productivity Inquiry into Early Childhood Education and Care.
We emphasised that high quality early childhood education:
- is an investment in the future as studies have shown that this leads to savings in grade retention, special education classes, welfare, juvenile justice etc
- improves performance at school – children that attend quality early education programs demonstrate higher NAPLAN and international testing results in later years at school, and
- is an importance form of invention for children most at risk of developmental delay – those with additional needs, those from low income families, those living in rural and remote areas and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.
The submission says that an important determinant of quality is qualified teachers and the need to ensure that teachers’ pay and conditions are the same as teachers in schools.
The government needs to increase investment in early childhood education and care by funding wages for early childhood teachers.
There should be no watering down of the National Quality Framework or delay in the implementation.
A copy of our full submission can be found on our website www.ieu.asn.au
Pay equity
The Pay Equity Case is before the Fair Work Commission again in early February with a round table for all parties involved.
Discussions will examine what research can be undertaken by the Pay Equity Unit with the Fair Work Commission and what has be done by unions and the employers. Although we are not sure how long the case will take we are hopeful that it will be finalised in the latter part of the year.
The Union is looking for teachers and teacher directors to appear as witnesses on our behalf. If you are interested contact Verena Heron via verena@ieu.ans.au
Preservation of your pay rates
Unless you have an agreement approved by the Fair Work Commission preserving your rates of pay and allowing for future increases after July 1 2014, the only legally enforceable pay rates will be those in the modern award.
Modern award rates at the top of the scale are some $20,000 less than those currently applicable in NSW.
In 2011 the IEU successfully varied the modern award to preserve the NAPSA rates in NSW, however this variation is only applicable until July 2014, after which time the rates of pay fall to the modern award rates.
The IEU has made an application to have the current provisions maintained until after the pay equity decision is handed down, but we do not know if we will be successful.
If you do not have an agreement in place we would encourage you to get one as soon as possible. Members should be aware that letters of appointment and contracts of employment are much more difficult and costly to enforce than an agreement.