Good morning. More than 1,000 Australian early childhood education centres are predicted to go on strike today seeking better pay and conditions. Economists expect a slowdown for the Australian economy as interest rates continue to rise. And there are concerns for the health of an Australian held in a Baghdad jail.
At least 1,000 childcare centres across the country are expected to close their doors on Wednesday to protest low wages and conditions in what unions say is the biggest industrial action early educators have taken. The executive director of early education at the United Workers Union, Helen Gibbons, estimated 70,000 families would be affected. She said she expected “many more” centres were planning to join the action and attend rallies.
