Minimum pay rates for 35,000 childcare workers to rise by 10pc next month after vote

Early years educators who are members of Siptu today voted in favour of the pay proposals by more than 90pc.

The proposals provide a pay rise close to 10pc, which will lift minimum hourly pay rates to €15 for educators and €20.25 for graduate managers.

Diane Jackson, Siptu sector organiser, said its members overwhelmingly supported the pay rates.

They were agreed following talks between union representatives and employers on an Early Years Joint Labour Committee at the Workplace Relations Commission.

“This strong endorsement by our members is a crucial step forward for the sector,” she said.

She said early years educators and managers have fought tirelessly for professional recognition, with pay that reflects the vital importance of their work.

Ms Jackson said the deal is directly linked to €45m in government funding, which is ringfenced to fund the increases from September 1.

She said access to the funding is conditional on the pay deal being legally in force.

“The proposals must now be adopted by the Joint Labour Committee and approved by the Labour Court before being signed into legal effect by the minister,” she said.

She called on employer representatives to engage constructively and swiftly in the process without unnecessary hold-ups.

Avril Green, Siptu Early Years Union Chair, said: “Our members have waited long enough for professional pay. The funding window is clear, we must work together to get this deal over the line and the money into educators’ pockets from September.”

Elaine Dunne, chairperson of the Federation of Early Childhood Providers, said it is great to see early years educators have agreed to the pay deal.

“Unfortunately for providers we are now seeing over 10pc of members as of yesterday pulling out of the Core Funding model as it is not financially viable,” she said. “And it is the parents who now have short fall because the Core Funding has failed.”

She called for an investigation into the Core Funding model, focusing on the lifting of fee caps. Ms Dunne said this would support rising commercial costs.