Preschool workers could earn more as a cashier in a supermarket despite their qualifications and responsibilities, a Melbourne rally has heard.
Hundreds of preschool workers have staged a 24-hour strike over pay and conditions, closing at least 50 kindergartens and affecting 450 more on Wednesday.
In their first strike in more than a decade, preschool workers want pay parity with primary school teachers and have rejected a 2.25 per cent pay offer from the state government.
Australian Education Union early childhood vice president Shayne Quinn said co-educators, who assist preschool teachers in planning and conducting the class, earn between $16.36 and $19.76 an hour, while preschool teachers earn between five and nine per cent less than other teachers.
"The reality is that many of you holding a certificate three or diploma in children's services could earn much more working as a cashier in a supermarket without the requirement for qualifications or the responsibilities associated with it," she told the rally.
AEU Victorian branch president Meredith Peace says negotiations have been ongoing for 14 months without success.
"They would have us believe their rhetoric about the importance of early childhood education, but they have failed miserably to match this with the necessary investment for our children or for staff," she said.
Premier Denis Napthine said Victorian kindergarten teachers were hired by local government or local kindergarten associations.
"Everybody in the workforce on a regular basis through their EBA deserves and warrants fair and reasonable pay increases," he told reporters.
"They should negotiate fairly and openly with their employer."
But Ms Peace said there was more to it than that.
"We negotiate directly with the employer groups, those umbrella organisations, but the reality is the state government provides the bulk of funding to those groups to pay for staff and pay for the programs in our early childhood settings," she said.
Ms Peace said the union did not want to disrupt parents and families and had their support.
"But I have to say that the parents we have spoken to have been very supportive," she said.
"They want the best quality education for their kids and they understand that the teachers, the educators, are an important part in delivering that to their children."
