Ratoath pre school manager who was trolled online says new pay deal was 'worth evert bad comment'
The manager of a Ratoath pre school says the recently announced increase in pay rates for childcare providers will "change the face of the sector" and has spoken of the online abuse she received for campaigning for reform.
Almost three quarters of childcare staff are set for a pay hike after an “historic” new wage deal was signed off on Wednesday.
The agreement means legally-binding minimum rates of up to €17.25 an hour will apply to 27,000 workers from next week.
The government’s new “core funding” scheme for the sector means providers must commit to freeze fees for parents in return for increases in funding to support services and wages, from September 15.
Manager of Happy Days Preschool in Ratoath and Labour party local representative Eilish Balfe had warned that childcare services could face closure or cuts due to staff leaving the sector.
A crisis in the childcare sector has seen many providers struggling to retain staff, and parents to pay childcare fees, which have been commonly compared with having a second mortgage.
A Siptu survey indicated that almost 40% of workers in the early years childcare sector were actively seeking to leave the profession because of low pay.
SIPTU activist Balfe
"We unionised, we campaigned, we marched and campaigned some more to achieve this historic pay deal.
It’s been hard fought by every member of SIPTU,Reps, activists and union members. JLC negotiations were long and tough. SIPTU had to come down on the rates of pay we originally wanted due to the time frame of the talks. We knew we had to get this in by September.
"However the new minimum pay rates will bring educators out of poverty pay and up to 70% of the sector will receive a pay rise. Pay rates of minimum €13 an hour right up to €17.25 an hour for a graduate manager.
"This is the first step, legislation, which is one of the most important steps we can take.
SIPTU have always said we wanted the mercer pay scale for the sector and we will continue our campaign for those rates.
"Change wasn’t easy and myself and another SIPTU activist where actively trolled by members of a provider group on social media.
"However knowing that this day is historic for our sector and it changes the whole face of it was worth every bad comment."
Caroline McDonnell, owner of Kentstown Montessori also welcomes the news but says more needs to be done to support the sector.
"It's an historic day for the sector and advocating for professional recognition. Respect and appropriate pay and conditions has been a long journey which is not over yet. This ERO is very welcome, however it is only the first step in professional pay and needs to be increased year on year until we have equal pay with primary and post-primary teachers as we are the first level on the education continuum.
"The government has introduced the Core Funding Model to support pay, quality provision and sustainability but again, this investment is welcomed but also needs to be increased to ensure the crisis we are experiencing of staff retention, quality provision, sustainability for providers and affordability for parents.
"Early Childhood care and education is a public good and research provides evidence after evidence of the importance of quality early education and care for young children's optimal learning and development as a foundation for the rest of their lives."
Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail Damien English said:
"This is an extremely important sector and I’m glad to be in a position to be able to announce this. As minister, I have approved employment regulations orders to provide the first ever minimum rates of pay for roles in the sector’.
He went on to add: "The proposals submitted to me will apply to some 27,000 staff and are a welcome acknowledgement of the importance of the work carried out by everyone working in the early learning and childcare sector."