On Wednesday March 8 (International Woman's Day), at 3:20pm, childcare educators across Australia are set to walk off the job to protest pay rates and draw attention to the large pay gap between male and female dominated professions.
Childcare union United Voice has a long-running wage case in the Fair Work Commission, arguing that the 97 per cent female workforce is underpaid for working in a “pink collar” sector.
United Voice says some are being paid as little as $20 an hour, which is half the average national average and significantly less than workers in male-dominated professions with comparable skills and qualifications.
Government frontbencher David Gillespie said the strike wouldn’t be welcomed by many mums and dads. “I don’t think it will endear them to a lot of the parents who have pretty busy and complex work arrangements,” the assistant health minister told ABC TV.
Pay rate decisions are from the Fair Work Commission, he added.
Reference:
Childcare In Australia Is Getting A Big Shake Up,2017,News.com.au