Vienna's kindergartens strike for better work conditions
On Tuesday, the majority of private kindergartens, after-school care centres, and school-based recreational care providers are closed from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. due to a strike by employees.
Even municipal kindergartens have joined the protests, operating only in "emergency mode as they are obligated to ensure childcare. However, the nature of this emergency service may vary by location.
Kindergarten staff are participating in rallies from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. During these protests, around 100,000 children and their families could be affected.
The primary demands focus on smaller group sizes and increased staffing to give teachers more time to engage with the children. According to the workers union, there's a shortage of 600 teachers in municipal kindergartens in Vienna alone. Across all Viennese institutions, there is a deficit of 1,200 teachers in the elementary sector.
In addition to increased staffing, there are calls for comprehensive training and educational initiatives across Austria, on-duty supervision, and improved working conditions. A standardised federal framework law is proposed to harmonise regulations across all states, from Burgenland to Vorarlberg, including consistent group sizes.
READ ALSO: ‘Better and cheaper’: What foreigners really think about childcare in Austria
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Even municipal kindergartens have joined the protests, operating only in "emergency mode as they are obligated to ensure childcare. However, the nature of this emergency service may vary by location.
Kindergarten staff are participating in rallies from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. During these protests, around 100,000 children and their families could be affected.
The primary demands focus on smaller group sizes and increased staffing to give teachers more time to engage with the children. According to the workers union, there's a shortage of 600 teachers in municipal kindergartens in Vienna alone. Across all Viennese institutions, there is a deficit of 1,200 teachers in the elementary sector.
In addition to increased staffing, there are calls for comprehensive training and educational initiatives across Austria, on-duty supervision, and improved working conditions. A standardised federal framework law is proposed to harmonise regulations across all states, from Burgenland to Vorarlberg, including consistent group sizes.
READ ALSO: ‘Better and cheaper’: What foreigners really think about childcare in Austria
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