February has flown by, and now we’re moving towards spring. Here are the updates from February:

New Initiatives for Improving Staff Availability in Early Childhood Education through Multidisciplinary Collaboration

The coordination group for staff availability in early childhood education has created new initiatives, pilots, and measures to address the challenges of staff availability through multidisciplinary collaboration. Since the fall of 2023, staff representatives have also been involved in the group.

The final report was presented to Mayor Vartiainen during a staff event on March 6, 2024.

The group’s interdisciplinary approach has been impactful, bringing forth new initiatives to tackle staff availability challenges. One good example is the change in substitute arrangements. The establishment of a rapid response unit for early childhood education has made daily operations easier in daycare centers.

For us Democrats, employee well-being, participation, and job satisfaction are essential. These have been advanced in various ways within the working group.

The publication event was primarily aimed at employees, focusing on how to move forward together to resolve the situation.

Read the full report here:
Early Childhood Education Coordination Group Report 2024

Investments in Professionals Working with Children and Youth

Helsinki is enhancing its attractiveness as an employer with a recently launched salary development program.

This salary development program particularly addresses professional groups working with children and youth who did not receive salary increases through the previous year’s program. During the spring, there will also be negotiations regarding additional compensation funds, which we hope will target those professional groups that did not receive increases this time.

The salary development program has recognized the needs of the education sector and invested in early childhood education. Salary increases will be directed to early childhood educators, S2 teachers, social educators, and special educators, impacting nearly 3,000 employees.

In addition, youth workers’ salaries will be increased in the culture and leisure sector.

It is crucial to ensure the well-being and equality of Helsinki’s children and youth. Therefore, investing in the stability and appreciation of professionals working with children and youth, including through salary, is extremely significant. These are key issues for us Democrats, and this salary solution addresses them.

Developing Cooperation between Home and School

Recent meetings have particularly highlighted how we could enhance cooperation between home and school and support parenting. As a former chairperson of the Finnish Parents’ Union, this topic is, of course, close to my heart and expertise.

We will strongly promote this in the sector. The role of children’s families in schools is important and creates a communal foundation for students’ well-being and learning.

At the same time, it’s essential to consider the need for support for parenting and how we can address this in schools. This could help reduce inequality stemming from children’s backgrounds.

Establishment of the Employment Services Municipal Enterprise

The Helsinki City Board proposes that the City Council establish the Helsinki Employment Services Municipal Enterprise, starting on January 1, 2025. The decision will be made at the City Council meeting on Wednesday, March 13.

The City Board believes that the municipal enterprise model is currently the most timely way to organize employment services. Particularly in this situation, it is important that five political representatives and two officials (one of whom will serve as chairperson) are appointed to the board. We are unanimously satisfied with this decision.

For us Democrats, it is also extremely important that the municipal enterprise model is monitored and evaluated to make its functioning visible in this significant sector.

This matter will be on the council’s agenda tomorrow.