Some employers have urged the workplace umpire to set a high bar for multi-employer bargaining due to its “serious” consequences for the economy, as unions make a push for sector-wide pay rises for early childhood educators.

The Australian Childcare Alliance, backing unions’ landmark application to bargain at 64 long day-care centres, has told the Fair Work Commission the centres must be allowed to bargain together so they can use a new power to bring the Albanese government to the table.