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Supervisors of private kindergartens complain about the lack of clear framework conditions and an aggravated employment situation.
Almost three-quarters (71 percent) of the children of the federal capital are cared for in private nurseries and kindergartens. Above all, however, the works council members lack clear framework conditions on how to deal with the coronavirus: “We cannot understand the traffic light change,” explained Regina Huprich, president of the works council of the St. Nikolaus Foundation. Vienna turned orange, but schools and kindergartens remained yellow. “There are no clear rules for us and the specifications are constantly changing,” she criticized. “Colleagues are frustrated and at times absolutely on edge.”
The president of the Wiener Kinderfreunde works council, Karin Samer, agreed. They also did not participate in the creation of the manual with recommendations. In some cases, organizations independently issued stricter regulations because no one could afford to send even a single teacher home in the current situation. However, one would like to see clear, uniform, and binding guidelines that can also be implemented in everyday kindergarten life.
Lots of extra work pressure
You face a lot of extra work, from regularly sanitizing toys to more conversations with parents. Kindergarten teachers do not wear a mask because recognizing facial expressions is very important in young children, and distance rules cannot be observed because children must be swaddled or comforted. Therefore, the concern of being infected with the corona virus is “notorious” among her colleagues, Huprich said.
For years, works councils and the union have also been calling for better working conditions in general. In reality, public works meetings were planned but had to be postponed due to the pandemic, said Petra Pesti, president of the “Children in Vienna” (KIWI) works council. In Vienna, for example, there is currently a pedagogue and an assistant who also has to clean for 25 children from three to six years old. Therefore, Karin Samer from Wiener Kinderfreunde asks for fewer children and more adults per group. Instead of the current 0.5 to 0.6 percent, one percent of GDP will be spent on primary education.
Demand for uniform conditions throughout the country
For years, kindergarten teachers have insisted on uniform working conditions throughout Austria. Mario Ferrari, managing director of the GPA-djp union, said that “it is not seen at all that this fleckerl carpet of quality standards exists.” Much of the kindergarten area is currently a matter for the states or federal municipalities, but it needs “a clear responsibility on the part of the federal government.” To exert pressure, a signature campaign should be started.
