SIPTU - The Early Years Union

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SIPTU - The Early Years Union All posts are subject to moderation. The early years of a child’s life have a big impact on their growth and development as a person.

A loving and supportive environment gives children there the best start in life, whether that’s at home or in a crèche. Early Years workers and providers are dedicated and passionate about delivering a quality service that focuses on the needs of children and realising their full potential. However they are facing some big problems. Parents are paying too much for childcare. Workers cannot survive on low wages. Providers are struggling to break even. Simply put, the Early Years sector is in crisis. The cause of this crisis is clear; a lack of State investment. Ireland spends only 25% of the European average investment in Early Years services. While the government have made some progress we need to fundamental change how we fund childcare into the future. Children deserve quality, parents deserve affordability and workers deserve a professional wage. This is why SIPTU has launched the “Big Start” Campaign. By bringing workers, parents and providers together we can become a strong voice that the Government cannot ignore. We can demand adequate investment in the Early Years services to make it affordable, accessible, high quality with professional pay. Let’s invest in our future and give children a Big Start.

14/10/2026
05/10/2026

Simon Harris said that this was going to be a “Workers’ Budget”

Well, tomorrow is and the Government need to show that they truly recognise and value Early Years!

30/09/2026

There is no Early Years sector without educators and managers.

With just one week to go until Budget 2027, SIPTU, the Early Years Union, is calling on Government to properly value the professionals who educate and care for our youngest children.

We are calling for:

📌 €130 million in ring-fenced funding for Early Years pay
📌 Professional pay scales that recognise experience and qualifications
📌 An extension of the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) to children under three

Early Years professionals deserve to be recognised, respected and properly rewarded for the essential work they do every day.

It’s time for Government to listen to educators and managers.

👉 Sign our Budget 2027 petition today.

Link here: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=3yh2tE03dkG2YamFh1PLrOqmmqHbr2NJjZ6xiI1RN5pUMlpTN1hERE1QN0xETTFTU0JKVlgyQlVBSS4u&route=shorturl

It takes just one minute and please share it with your colleagues.

Value Early Years professionals.

Fund Early Years properly.

Public Early Years systems work better for parents and educators.In Ireland, with the state paying the wages of staff, i...
29/09/2026

Public Early Years systems work better for parents and educators.

In Ireland, with the state paying the wages of staff, it would work better for providers too.

This is the choice that the Minster for Children must make.

We feel incredibly privileged to have this excellent system for our kids, and the thought of having to go back to Ireland to try and navigate the system there was a major factor in us choosing to stay in Finland, says Dan Nickström

Pay Deal Breakthrough! Your Pay. Your Vote. 🗳️New Pay Proposals Agreed at JLC Talks. Ballot of all SIPTU Early Years mem...
17/09/2026

Pay Deal Breakthrough! Your Pay. Your Vote. 🗳️

New Pay Proposals Agreed at JLC Talks.

Ballot of all SIPTU Early Years members to start immediately fans.

Please check your email for more details and registration.

If you haven’t received an email, please send us a DM or email [email protected].

The state should pay the wages of Early Years Educators & Managers, just like teachers in primary.Staff, parents, childr...
03/09/2026

The state should pay the wages of Early Years Educators & Managers, just like teachers in primary.

Staff, parents, children and providers need a new deal!

We have become so used to thinking of childcare as big business that we have forgotten there are many, some quite obvious, solutions to the crisis we are facing

27/08/2026

€45 million of funding for pay is at risk.

Employer groups at the pay talks need to agree a fair deal that recognises everyone.

Every week they don’t, the sector hands back €860,000 to government.

It’s time for fans, educators, managers and providers to have the voice heard. It’s time for a fair pay deal.

26/08/2026

🎥 One week to go until our documentary airs!

Shaping the Future premieres on 29 August and tells the story of Ireland's state-funded Pre-School programme through the experiences of children, families and early years educators.

Discover the impact of early learning and care, hear inspiring real life stories, and meet the dedicated professionals helping young children thrive every day.

📅 29 August 2026
⏰ 12.00pm
📺 Virgin Media Television

Find out more: https://tinyurl.com/bdery5sb

18/08/2026

The message is clear, Early Years Educators and Managers have said NO to the unfair pay offer from the employers groups.

It’s time to negotiate a fair deal that recognises and respects our work .

Join the Early Years Union - SIPTU at www.siptu.ie/join

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SIPTU, Liberty Hall
Dublin
D01E5Y3

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