Pre-school workers get paid peanuts...!!!

Mics_chick

I've recently become a committee member of my dd's pre-school and I went to my 2nd meeting last week where a pay rise was discussed for the staff. It turned out to be a miserly 15p per hour!!!

I also learned some other shocking facts as well...

The supervisor said that she earned £7.40 per hour. To which I exclaimed (without engaging brain first ) "That's the same as a shop assistant in any supermarket coz they get £7.45"
All of the staff members said "Oh thanks very much for that!!" in a very sarky way (after which I tried to disappear into the nearest corner ) So I sat there quietly thinking abou it when I realised that the supervisor earns £1 per hour more than the other staff members so they only get £6.40 per hour...
I also found out that they only get paid for 45 weeks a year so the other 7 weeks they don't get paid at all!!!!! and they don't get paid sick pay coz they have to pay for a replacement and they can't afford to pay for them both!!!!
This is absolutely ridiculous...can anyone help on how to possibly improve this for them???

ailuro2

Sadly the people who do one of the most important jobs are the poorest paid. There is no easy answer,unfortunately.
Shopworkers here do not get paid 7.45 though, I heard from a friend who used to work in the green,four lettered big supermarket that she was on 5.50 an hour?

You do need to tread carefully,what would you do if they decided to strike?
Would the other parents be willing to pay more for childcare to fund a decent wage- and what is decent?

1012donna

For the carers wages to increase then the fees would have to increase and I would imagine the parents wouldn't be happy with that.

Knelley

[QUOTE=Mics_chickThe supervisor said that she earned £7.40 per hour. To which I exclaimed (without engaging brain first ) "That's the same as a shop assistant in any supermarket coz they get £7.45"
[/QUOTE]

I wish I worked where they did:eek: I have worked in retail for years and trust me.....we don't get anywhere near that. Try £5.50 as the average wage for a shop assistant:rolleyes:

squibbs25

Where my daughter goes to playgroup the wages are very low too, But like a member of staff said, she loves the job, its about 5-10 mins walk from home. The hours are good and she gets school holidays off which co-inside with her children. This is the case for 4 members of staff.
And as pointed out childcare is forever on the increase, our playgroup keep there charges to an absolute minimum.

Also the area i live, i don't know of any shop work where you can earn more than £5.50 an hour, Unless of course you are supervisor or above.

Squibbs

molerat

One of my local workers left and is now stacking shelves in lidl for more money, but Knelley and squibbs25 are correct, the National Minimum Wage is the norm in retail.

......but..... I think low wages are not the problem in this country. Wages being too high for many is the cause of much of UK's problems but that is for another thread

Rachie_B

Tell me about it

I work in childcare and always have.I was assistant supervisor of a Playgroup for 4 years before we moved after our youngest son was born.

Its like said above,its swings & roundabouts really,you put the fees up,parents complain and will go elsewhere

Childcare in general is poorly paid , its madness as your children are (supposed to be!) the most precious things in your life,yet parents dont want to pay for quality care?!!

I am now a nanny and this is better paid,because in general those families that can afford a nanny dont mind paying more IYSWIM

inkie

You ought to see what vicars get paid that is peanuts!

UKTigerlily

I'm with Asda & on £5.71, we're getting a 17p an hour payrise on 1st April

UKTigerlily

I'm with Asda & on £5.71, we're getting a 17p an hour payrise on 1st April

astonsmummy

I am a homecare worker and get £6.10ph which personally i think is crap for the work we do but i love my job and want to gain qualifications etc which i can do for free through my company.