Childcare workers to strike as parents scramble for minders

Childcare workers are set to strike for the third time in less than a year – leaving parents scrambling to find people to look after their children.

Workers are set to strike on Tuesday for better pay in New South Wales, causing an ‘unprecedented’ amount of centres to close, the Daily Telegraph reported.

Federal Education Minister Simon Birmingham said the mostly female employees were being ‘used’ by the union. 

Mr Birmingham said the union was giving workers ‘bad advice’.

‘I have enormous respect for early learning and childcare workers and the work they do, but they’re being used by their unions and given bad advice,’ he said.

Employees are demanding a 30 per cent wage increase after losing a Fair Work Commission test case in which they sought similar pay to male-dominated industries.

In their submission, childcare workers said their jobs were ‘noisy, dangerous and stressful’ and bear similar dangers and responsibilities to the work of engineers.

United Voice has asked parents to support the strike – promoted as ‘Keep Your Children Home Day’ – and refused to disclose how many of the state’s 5000 centres.

It is the third time in less than a year childcare workers have gone on strike.

Union leader Helen Gibbons said it will be the ‘biggest day of action in history’.

Federal Education Minister Simon Birmingham said the mostly female employees were being ‘used’ by the union

United Voice said parents who will be affected by the strike have been notified. 

About 91 per cent of childcare staff nenvers are women.

In the Fair Work Commission test case, unions argued that children’s services had changed over time from simply child minding to early child development and education, and that they deserved more pay as a result.

Union leader Helen Gibbons said it will be the ‘biggest day of action in history’ (stock image)