The Thornton Child Care Centre and Preschool was a test case in the Independent Education Union’s fight for early childhood teachers to receive fair pay.

When the union successfully negotiated a 13.5 per cent (over three years) increase through the NSW Industrial Relations Commission in January 2006, employers did not hesitate to pay the first installment.

However, some sought to use the onset of WorkChoices in March 2006 to excuse them from paying the rest.

But after yesterday’s finding, the union now expected all long day care centres and preschools to immediately pay the 2007 and 2008 increases.

The union also expected that the Fair Pay Commission will now amend its published pay-rates in accordance with the decision.

“This is a win for childcare workers in general,” Thornton Child Care Centre and Preschool early childhood teacher Lisa Suszek said.

“We were a bit nervous taking this on but we had strength in numbers and we deserve to be paid for what we’re worth.”