New pay deal process gives CELA and CCC a voice for community run and small providers

Peak bodies Community Child Care Association (CCC) and Community Early Learning Australia (CELA) will represent community-run and small providers in the first national application for multi-employer bargaining in the early education and care (ECEC) sector under new federal industrial relations laws, which come into effect from today. 

The peak bodies described the move as “a historic pay negotiation plan of unity and cooperation,” outlining how they will work in collaboration with unions and other peaks to send a decisive message about the way in which increased workforce professionalism can deliver the best opportunities for Australia’s children and their parents, with CELA and CCC representing community-run and small providers.

“The application to the Fair Work Commission today will kick start the process towards a professional and better remunerated workforce that can deliver even better results for our youngest Australians and their families,” CCC Executive Director Julie Price said. 

“Paying minimum wage does not reflect the importance of the early education and care workforce,” CELA CEO Michele Carnegie added. “The quality of care and education for our children should not be determined by where a family lives or how much they can afford to pay.” 

In the past many community services and small providers have been ‘locked out’ of enterprise bargaining, she continued, because of the cost and complexity of doing it independently. 

“In Victoria, we’ve seen small early education and care services can improve wages and conditions through multi- employer bargaining. With 80 per cent of providers operating just one service, these laws will open up that benefit many more services across the country.” 

“We all understand these new laws are a unique opportunity for the education and care sector to work together to tackle low wages and conditions. This process is a real opportunity to improve wages and solve staffing shortages without increasing costs to parents.” 

“Better wages and conditions are the key to ensuring early education and care is a rewarding and valued profession.”