Around 70,000 children and families across Australia have been affected as early childhood workers took to the street to demand better wages and working conditions.
On Sep. 7, more than 1,000 childcare centres over the country had to close partially or completely, causing impacted parents to look for other ways to take care of their children.
As workers staged rallies across capital cities and some regional centres, the United Workers Union called on the federal government to ensure wage rises and major reforms.
Union early education director Helen Gibbons said labour shortages had brought a crisis to the industry.
“They’re exhausted, they’re sick of being undervalued, and they’re calling for change,” Gibbons said in comments obtained by AAP….