see this: https://forum.ionicframework.com/t/how-to-make-a-directive-or-equivalent/40428/14?u=melliott
"@Page comes with the IONIC_DIRECTIVES by default, if you're using the @Component you need to include them in the directives array"
I had to use this:
import {IONIC_DIRECTIVES} from 'ionic-framework/ionic';