Real solutions needed to avoid childcare strike
Responding to the announcement of a planned strike by childcare workers on the 5th February, Labour spokesperson on Children and Youth Affairs, Seán Sherlock T.D, said:
“The crisis in the childcare sector is one that has been brewing for some time, and yet it seems the seriousness of the issue has still not been fully realised by the Minister.
“If we want to have a high-quality childcare sector in this country, workers need to be paid what they deserve, and should be on the Living Wage at a minimum.
“Parents, who are currently being crippled by high childcare costs, should also be able to avail of a quality service at an affordable price and not be forced to choose, as many are, between childcare and working full-time.
“We saw before Christmas with the hike in insurance costs just how close to the brink the childcare sector is.
“Workers feel backed into a corner, and this planned strike on February 5th will undoubtedly also have a massive impact on parents who will have to find alternative care for their children or take leave from work.
“The Minister should intervene now to prevent this from happening and sit down and meet with the early years sector to discuss their ongoing concerns.”