Our pay equity campaign for educators
The road to pay equity for ECE
All ECE teachers are worth more. We have been undervalued because our workforce is female dominated and it’s time to work together to fix this.
We do this by progressing pay equity for all ECE. We want the government to fund a joined up solution for us all.
Here’s a summary of the process for of a pay equity claim for early childhood teachers.
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Step 1
We confirm the teaching positions that will be covered by the claim
There are many early childhood teaching positions, so we will aim to claim for as many as possible.
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Step 2
We gather evidence that your work has been undervalued
Next, we gather evidence and data to show that your work is mostly done by women, and that it is undervalued as “women’s work”.
We will highlight the history of the work, and show that these factors have had a real impact on pay rates for early childhood teachers.
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Step 3
We gain agreement from employers to be part of a pay equity process
Our aim is to have as many employers as possible become a part of a pay equity process, because we want a solution that will unite the whole early childhood sector.
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Step 4
We gather information about the work you do
This could include gathering job descriptions, conducting surveys, and interviewing a wide range of ECE teachers.
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Step 5
We build a picture of your work
We’ll use the information gathered to get a clear picture of what the work of early childhood teachers involves so that an appropriate comparator can be found.
We will ensure that the skills that are commonly overlooked in “women’s work” are included in this picture.
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Step 6
We find comparators
We will find male dominated jobs, or ‘comparators’, to compare the work to.
Appropriate comparators may include:
- those doing the same or similar work or;
- different work that involves similar skills, responsibilities, efforts and conditions
and are paid more than early childhood teachers.
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Step 7
We negotiate
Negotiations for a pay equity rate take place.
Negotiations will need to include employers, and the Government will need to fund a solution.
You can be part of the movement for pay equity
Teachers and staff from all over the country are coming together from publicly funded AND private sectors. It takes just a moment to be part of it.