Queensland childcare strike: Many parents urged to collect children early

Panicked parents arrived at south-east Queensland childcare centres today relieved to find them still open, after educators threatened to walk off the job.

Operators promised a "day of chaos" as childcare workers fought for a national pay rise.

A Wynnum centre told parents there would be minimal supervision from midday, and urged parents to pick their children up early.

Other centres will close later this afternoon to ease the impact on families.

Several Ashgrove parents told 9NEWS they first heard of the strike on radio, and had no option but to drive to centres to see if they were open.

"I've got friends who just called in sick to work," a father said.

"It's inconvenient but they're looking after our kids and do a terrific job, so of course we support a pay rise."

Early childhood union United Voice has organised an afternoon rally at Woolloongabba as part of a national protest.

"$21 an hour does not reflect the value of educators' work, their professional qualifications or the value of the children they educate," United Voice assistant national secretary Helen Gibbons said.

It's the third time child care workers have taken strike action, arguing their work is undervalued because of gender equality.

They want a 30 per cent pay rise.

Educators earn as little as $21 an hour, with the average Australian wage about $42 an hour.

"I expect all early learning and child care centres to value their employees and pay them as much as they can afford," Federal Education Minister Simon Birmingham said.

"Many already do pay above the award.

The role of government is not to run those centres but to help families access affordable care."

The Federal Government added that the independent Fair Work Commission sets wages.