IPPR report on collective bargaining highlights childcare
The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) have published a report on areas where sector specific collective bargaining could help improve pay and conditions for workers. Childcare has been highlighted as a next step after adult social care.
The report highlights the fact that the government is facing challenges in delivering its missions in crucial industries such as childcare, house-building and rail due to issues with recruitment and retention. The IPPR think tank says that recruitment and retention problems can be solved with Fair Pay Agreements.
A commitment from the government to introduce sectoral collective bargaining for social care employees and teaching support staff has already happened. The process will involve both unions and employers negotiating across an entire sector including training standards, pay and working conditions.
IPPR recommends:
- Establishing new negotiating bodies in law with new legislation defining the remit and organisations involved for rail, childcare and construction sectors
- Ensuring that pay, terms and conditions are applied consistently to everyone working in the rail and childcare sector
- Encouraging contractors in publicly funded construction projects to comply with collectively agreed workforce standards
NDNA have said clearly that the existing problems across the sector would need to be addressed before introducing sectoral collective bargaining. Setting up this body without a fully funded national workforce strategy, or addressing under-funding would be setting it up to fail.
Purnima Tanuku CBE, Chief Executive of National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) said: “The people working in early education and childcare settings have a huge impact on children’s development, learning and outcomes in these crucial first five years. Research has shown that their skills, knowledge and professional development are vital to giving our children the best start in life. So it’s right that the Government should work to build a system that recognises, rewards and encourages them to go further in an early years career.
“At the same time, evidence from our research, the Low Pay Commission and other government bodies shows that underfunding is a major issue in addressing pay, retention and high staff turnover. In the absence of a properly funded workforce strategy, a genuine review of funding rates that links to costs and support to ensure early years providers can be sustainable, another body will not help the sector, the workforce or our children.
“To achieve its ambitious aims for our youngest children we want to see a clear strategy from the Government to support the workforce with a review of the resources it needs to deliver on its promises. Early education providers and their staff are working hard for children and families, and they need the support in place so they can ensure every child gets the best start in life.”
Joseph Evans, researcher at IPPR, said:
“Labour has promised to deliver its national missions, but workforce shortages in the industries which will achieve those missions are creating significant hurdles. Construction, childcare, and rail will all deliver on the government’s promises to grow the economy and break down barriers to opportunity. Fair pay agreements will help to make sure these sectors are functioning as effectively as possible: they’re key to getting Britain back to work and driving growth.”
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