By NICOLE VALICEK
ANGRY parents will converge on the first 2014 meeting of Hobsons Bay City Council tonight in protests against its proposed plan to outsource its two childcare centres.
Australian Services Union (ASU) Women’s Officer Jane Karslake said the decision by Hobsons Bay Council to contract out Altona North and Altona Meadows Children’s Centre is “intended solely on cutting the wages of childcare workers”.
Ms Karslake said the ASU along with The Save Altona North (ANNCC) and Altona Meadows (AMCC) parents’ group, want the council to reverse its decision.
“The group passionately supports the maintenance of existing services, which provide the centres with a secure workforce, helping offer better learning and development to their children.”
She said the ASU will join staff and parents outside the council chambers to rally in protest of the decision which will be revisited during the council’s ordinary meeting tonight.
“We call on Hobsons Bay Council to reverse a decision that will clearly have an adverse effect on childcare employees in the area and the community as a whole.”
Parents have called for the release of the confidential report on which the decision was based and for an independent feasibility study on the future of the only two remaining council run centres in the municipality.
Ms Karslake said plans to contract out work within the two centres will leave employees without jobs and a community unsure of the level of service that will be provided for childcare in the area.
“This is an attack on our members’ jobs and pay equity in general,” she said.
“For this to be occurring at a time when there’s broad community acknowledgement that early childhood educators are underpaid and in short supply beggars belief.”
Staff and parents from the affected centres will be joined by their families and friends at
a family barbecue/picnic outside Council Chambers at 6pm today.
Hobsons Bay City Council was contacted for comment but did not get back to Star before deadline.
