Some professionals in the area of early childhood care and education are staging a ‘walk-out’ on Friday, October 27th.
This is in response to the lack of funding given in the recent budget. They had urged the government to provide a bigger investment into the workforce but they failed to do so.
They increased the ECCE capitation level by 7percent, but the Association of Childhood Professionals feels this is not an adequate amount to cover the rising costs that providers have experienced since 2010.
The Association of Childhood Professionals has suggested that people working in the early childhood education sector, and parents of children in those facilities, should conduct a walk-out on Friday, October 27th.
‘Walk off the job’ has been chosen for this Friday as the date signifies their average wage of €10.27.
Early Childhood Ireland has spoken out against the planned walk-out, saying they believe it’s not ‘a constructive or effective way of highlighting these very serious issues’. They also raised the following concerns on their website:
- The impact on children and their families in services which may be forced to close early;
- Without official Union backing, staff will be without essential legal protection and may leave themselves open to a loss of pay and/or disciplinary action;
- There is no sense of the numbers of staff intending to participate in the proposed walk-out or the numbers of Providers supporting such action by their staff, or who may be affected, meaning it is difficult to offer clear advice to providers about how they might in turn advise parents;
- This means it will be the decision of individual services how they respond to any action taken, leaving providers in a difficult and vulnerable position, on this vital and sensitive issue.
While most childcare facilities welcome the need for change and want to take a stand, it isn’t always possible to stage walk-outs, especially those that involve parents who cannot leave work.
As a result, some childcare businesses, like Safari Childcare in Rathmines in Dublin, are opting to support the cause by wearing red on Friday.
They will also conduct a mini walk out around their local park to raise awareness.
