|
20 May 2003
Nursery nurse strike action starts in the West
Around 2,500 nursery nurses from Glasgow and the West of Scotland
started three days of strike action across Scotland today.
The action is the latest step in the campaign by the nurses' union
UNISON for a review and regrading of their jobs. In addition a boycott
of additional duties that have been added to nursery nurse responsibilities
since the last pay review 15 years ago, starts on the 20 May and
will continue indefinitely.
"Initial reports indicate that the action is being well supported
across Scotland." Said Carol Ball, Chair of UNISON's Nursery Nurse
Working Party.
"Tomorrow our colleagues from the rest of Scotland will be joining
us and will continue the action on onto Thursday when we go back
to work. This staggered action aims to try and minimise the disruption
to parents whilst maintaining the highest possible public profile
of nursery nurses"
A rally of Nursery Nurses in Glasgow's George Square was told that
the union at UK level had supported a plan of action that will continue
for the next 5 weeks unless the employers come forward with a clear
Scottish offer.
Joe Di Paola, UNISON's Scottish Local Government Organiser, said
"UNISON's National Industrial Action Committee which met on Monday,
agreed to a co-ordinated rolling programme of strikes over the next
5 weeks. We plan to strike in different parts of Scotland on different
weeks, to ensure that the momentum continues, but that parents don't
have to face too much disruption. We hope that the employers will
have similar considerations and make an early move to settle this
dispute."
The action will mean closure of local nurseries and nursery schools
on strike days, and disruption of the overall nursery service. But
parents have been very supportive says Carol Ball. "Parents want
to know that their children are being educated by people with the
proper training, qualifications and conditions. They recognise the
justice in our members claim, and that a badly paid service will
not deliver the quality education and care their children deserve."
More strikers from the east and north of Scotland join the strikes
tomorrow and west of Scotland strikers return to work on Thursday.
There will be further rallies in Kilmarnock and Edinburgh on Wednesday
(12 30pm Kilmarnock (the Cross):12.30pm Edinburgh, The Quadrangle,
City Chambers)
ENDS
[Notes to the Editor - Extra duties that will be boycotted include
observation, recording assessment and evaluation processes, planning
and development tasks, student training, all work outwith normal
working hours, and all clerical, janitorial and cleaning tasks.]
For Further Information Please Contact: Carol Ball (Chair-Nursery
Nurse Working Pty) - 0141-552 7069(o) 07803 952263(m) Joe Di Paola
(Scottish Organiser - Loc Govt) - 0845 355 0845(o) 07990 505 698(m)
Angela Lynes (Scottish NEC member) 0141-552 7069(o) 07979 522 606(m)
Chris Bartter (Communications Officer) 0845 355 0845(w) 0771 558
3729(m)
Nursery
Nurse Campaign pages
Index
|
