NSW: ABC Learning plan questionable - union

AAP General News (Australia)
12-05-2008
NSW: ABC Learning plan questionable - union

SYDNEY, Dec 5 AAP - A plan to secure a place for every child now at an ABC Learning
childcare centre only raises more questions for parents and staff, Australia's childcare
union says.

ABC Learning, the nation's largest childcare provider, went into receivership last
month after registering debts of more than $1 billion.

The receiver, McGrath Nicol, said in Brisbane on Friday that it had a plan to secure
a childcare place next year for every child using the crippled company's existing centres.

It said the details would be finalised next week, along with plans for ABC centre staff jobs.

However, LHMU national secretary Louise Tarrant told reporters she had concerns about
the lack of guarantees for the company's workforce.

"On the one hand, parents are being told that there will be a secure position for their
children next year, but there are no similar guarantees for workers," she told reporters
in Sydney.

Ms Tarrant said some children might be forced to attend a childcare centre that was
not located near their home.

"Just to assume that children can be moved around like pieces in a puzzle, (that) is
obviously not the case," she said.

She said her biggest concern was lack of job security for the centres' workers.

"At least there is a statement of intent that they (the receivers) are trying to ensure
places for children.

"What they haven't given is any detail as to what that looks like, and what they haven't
given is any guarantee for workers in those centres."

Ms Tarrant said staff felt weighed down by the uncertainty, and she hoped the situation
would be remedied early next week.

"The only consultation that workers have had in recent times is being told that an
announcement would be made earlier in the week, and when it didn't come, then that's only
increased anxiety," she said.

"So it's really important that we get some details, that the union is able to sit down
at the table on Monday with the receivers and with government and have a look at the list
and find out what really is going to happen to places and to workers' jobs."

Until that happened, Ms Tarrant said she could not be confident the centres had a future.

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KEYWORD: ABC UNION

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