Thousands of Creche and Early Education Staff to Be Balloted on Industrial Action After Pay Talks Collapse

Thousands of childcare and early education staff are set to be balloted on industrial action following the breakdown of pay talks. The union Siptu, representing approximately 6,000 workers, deemed the offers from employer representative bodies "unfair and unacceptable," raising the possibility of strikes if members reject the proposals and employers do not improve them.

Talks involved separate offers from Childhood Services Ireland (CSI), an Ibec body representing larger providers, and the Federation of Early Childhood Providers (FECP), which represents smaller, independent services. CSI proposed increases ranging from 4% for graduate lead educators to 16% for managers. For the lowest-paid workers, earning €15 per hour, the CSI plan would raise pay to €15.70. The FECP proposed an 80-cent (5.35%) increase to the basic €15 rate, rising to €1.10 (6.35%) for lead educators earning at least €16 per hour.

“

The offers fall well short of what is needed to reach a deal. We see the lowest paid receiving the lowest percentage increases which I think will be will be unacceptable to our members.

Siptu expressed concern over the disparity in proposed increases between ordinary staff and managers, calling it a "serious issue regarding the lack of fairness and consistency across grades." The union argues that the proposed increases are largely funded by a government allocation of €45 million, set aside from September 1st. "The offers fall well short of what is needed to reach a deal," said Siptu's Darragh O’Connor, adding that the lowest paid receiving the lowest percentage increases would be unacceptable to members.

The FECP stated that while the government's €45 million is a welcome contribution, it does not cover all the necessary pay increases. Employers face significantly rising costs in other areas, including staffing, utilities, and insurance. "For years, the cost of employing staff, keeping services open, paying insurance, utilities, food and every other day-to-day expense has continued to rise," said Elaine Dunne, leader of the FECP. "At the same time, the income available to many providers has remained effectively frozen. Yet they are now expected to absorb even more costs without being given the means to pay for them."

“

For years, the cost of employing staff, keeping services open, paying insurance, utilities, food and every other day-to-day expense has continued to rise. At the same time, the income available to many providers has remained effectively frozen. Yet they are now expected to absorb even more costs without being given the means to pay for them.