Thur 11 Mar 2004

UNISON urges CoSLA to take up Parliament call for negotiations

UNISON, the union for Scotland's nursery nurses, today welcomed today's debate in the Scottish Parliament and their recognition of the importance of the pre-five sector. The union, who had hundreds of striking nursery nurses lobbying the Parliament, called on CoSLA to back the call to continue negotiation and to deliver fair pay.

Joe Di Paola (Scottish Organiser- Local Government) said, "We welcome Parliament's decision to call for fair pay for nursery nurses and others in early years. UNISON is clear that to be fair, people doing the same job across Scotland should be paid the same. It cannot be fair to have people paid differently depending on what side of a line they work. It is ironic that the only group that backed CoSLA's line was the Conservative Group.

"We would also call on CoSLA to take up the Parliament's call for negotiations - something they have been refusing to do up till now."

Carol Ball, Chair of UNISON's nursery nurse working group, said "It was a great debate and we welcome the support of the speakers from across the political divide. Whilst it is good to know of the commitment of the Executive and the Parliament to early years workers and the important initiatives that have taken place, it is time that this commitment was translated into action. We will be continuing our action until we achieve fair treatment and professional pay for nursery nurses wherever they work."

ENDS

For Further Information Please Contact: Joe Di Paola (Scottish Organiser - Local Govt) 0845 355 0845(w) 07990 505698(m) Carol Ball (Chair Nursery Nurse WP) 07803 952263 (m) Angela Lynes (Chair - UNISON Negotiators) 07979 522606(m) Chris Bartter (Communications Officer) 0845 355 0845(w) 0771 558 3729(m)

Index

Nursery Nurse minisite