Ballarat enterprise agreement: Childcare Schedule update

09 May 2024

The ASU met with management yesterday to discuss the childcare schedule in the enterprise agreement. The ASU was represented by ASU Lead Organiser Zoe Edwards, ASU Childcare member Tara Hoskinson and ASU delegate Manny Mason.

The ASU has been advocating for recognition of the time it takes workers to open and close the centres, including the need to check the yard for syringes and set up rooms and more. Management has been resistant to recognising this time.

However, your strong vote against the proposed enterprise agreement in March and ASU members voting to take industrial action, has caused a change of heart.

Management has proposed a number of allowances to improve some childcare workers wages. These include an allowance for Educational Leader, Room Leader and the introduction of an allowance for Beginning/End of day shift. The proposal Beginning/End of Day shift allowance would apply to anyone rostered for the first (opening) shift and last (closing) shift and would be paid 25% of the hourly rate. Download the full details of what is proposed here.  

We are keen to understand whether these proposed allowances are fair and whether they adequately address the issues around workload at the start and end of the day.

Management has also proposed to remove the uniform allowance. We have concerns about the reduction of any entitlement and are keen to understand from members what they think about this proposed change.

In addition, they are also proposing to introduce ‘new’ shifts. We understand these shifts are already in place (outside of the enterprise agreement!).

Download the full list of changes here.

Please send your thoughts on the proposal to:
ASU lead organiser Zoe Edwards | 0474 333 463 | [email protected]