03 NovELAA’s advocacy for fair wages
On Wednesday, 2 November CELA, CCC and ELAA representatives met with Senator Jess Walsh to discuss pressing issues in the early childhood education and care sector (ECEC). This meeting provided the opportunity to advocate for immediate workforce support to retain educators, whilst working towards longer-term, structural changes. The Senator was highly engaged and articulated the Government’s vision of passing the industrial relations legislation this year to facilitate supported bargaining in the early childhood sector next year with the Government at the table as a funder. ELAA will continue to advocate for government funding to support wage increases across the sector, including seeking to participate in another joint workforce summit this year.
ELAA will also commence the Victorian Early Childhood Teacher and Educator Agreement (VECTEA) negotiations in the new year, in preparation for the 2024 VECTEA agreement. This will be a collaborative process, including sector representatives and unions. The VECTEA will continue to be ELAA’s preferred agreement within the ECEC sector and will guide our advocacy strategy when negotiating sector bargaining.
