Defending Worthy Wages

07/12/2013

Too much love never spoils children. Children become spoiled when we substitute presents for presence.
Anthony Witham

The Australian government recently acted upon a "Big Steps Campaign" led by early childhood educators and announced the establishment of a Pay Equity Unit to investigate the lifting of wages across the early childhood education and care sector. The legislation provided $300 million to fund professional wages in the sector.

Leading the charge for this legislation was the Minister for Early Childhood and Childcare, Kate Ellis, from Adelaide, Australia. Ellis defended the action in a speech to the Australian Parliament in the face of comments from opponents in Parliament that early childhood educators are "dimwits" and that those campaigning to be valued and paid fairly were "chasing the dollar and should do it for the love of children."

Contributed by Sandy Chadwick, Knowledge Universe, Singapore

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