ECEC update: Unite for Change – Preschools Supported Bargaining Update

May 7, 2025

What’s happened? The latest supported bargaining conference in the Fair Work Commission occurred on Wednesday 30 April. Present were the Deputy President, Judith Wright, the IEU bargaining team, Community Early Learning Australia (CELA) and government officials from the NSW Department of Education.

As previously requested by the Deputy President, the government returned to the Fair Work Commission on 30 April to provide further information on Start Strong funding policies and guidelines and what that funding can be spent on. Unfortunately, the government still believes the funding is sufficient for service providers to pass on significant wage rises without the need for increased government funding.

The IEU ambassadors argued that this is not the case, not all preschools can achieve the maximum funding available. To support this argument, we need to show evidence from case studies. We need to show the government (using case studies) where the Start Strong funding goes. To demonstrate this and strengthen our claim we will be approaching selected preschools to share their funding and expenditures information. More information on this will be sent to contributing members. The government needs to be convinced that current funding doesn’t allow for wage increases without increasing fees, which undermines their own policy around universal access.

What can you do? The IEU encourages our preschool members to help support the campaign by inviting local NSW government politicians to your service. Showcase the work you do and tell them why you deserve to be recognised as professionals with professional wages and conditions. The IEU is here to help you and can provide speaking notes and handouts to give parents, politicians and committees. Let us know about any visits you host and send us the photos. Find your local member in the link, click here.

We are back before the Fair Work Commission on Tuesday 20 May.

Read the IEU’s latest ECEC update for Preschool teachers below.

Please encourage your teacher colleagues to join the union!

If you are an early childhood teacher and an IEU member, check out our Facebook group.