“Don’t be too polite girls, don’t be too polite!” – the Combined Early Childhood Union of Aotearoa

The Early Childhood Workers Union had a short, but colourful, history as an outspoken group fighting to improve the lot of often very low-paid workers in the private sector.

Founded, in part, by the impetus of long-time activist Sonja Davies, the union was registered in 1982. It made an immediate impact with many employers feeling threatened and nervous about their newly outspoken employees.

ECWU produced a burst of activism in terms of meetings, discussion of common issues, the formation of branches and meetings with employers. It quickly developed a reputation for effective actions involving music, song, street theatre and the visual arts.

In 1984, it achieved the first national Award for Childcare (Consenting Parties) that set out terms and conditions for members, although it not include wage rates because of the Muldoon-era Wage-Price Freeze. Wages were included from 1985.

ECWU was a vocal proponent throughout the 1980s of the campaign for improved quality in services and for the recognition of the benefits of quality care and education for children. In 1986, the oversight of childcare services was moved from the Department of Social Welfare to the Department of Education.

As a small union, it was hit hard by the economic downturn in the late 1980s and it amalgamated with the Kindergarten Teachers Association in 1990 to form the Combined Early Childhood Union of Aotearoa (CECUA). Three years after the introduction of the Employment Contracts Act in 1991, which seriously eroded the ability of unions to operate effectively, CECUA amalgamated with NZEI.