Fórsa is set to attend a meeting of the Early Years Advisory Group on 31st January to advocate for improved pay and conditions for its members working in the sector. The union will seek implementation of the Mercer recommendations and discussions on professionalisation.  

The advisory group was established to advise government on the rollout of the early years strategy, which was published last year.

Fórsa organiser Katie Morgan said the publication of the early years strategy was the first step towards the professionalisation of the sector, but that there is a long way to go.

“Fórsa welcomes this formal opportunity to advocate on behalf of our members working in the sector. Members have been calling on this for years, and we will be using this opportunity to reiterate our calls for the professionalisation of the sector,” she said.

Fórsa participated in consultations on the early years strategy and the Mercer recommendations on pay for early years workers. The Mercer report, which was commissioned by the National Childhood Network, calls for significantly increased investment from Government to improve pay in the sector.

It also calls for a sectoral employment agreement (SEO) as a priority, to develop an agreed minimum starting point on proposed salary scales for early years roles, as a transitional arrangement.