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1 October 2003
Letter from UNISON Edinburgh to parents affected
by the nursery nurse dispute
Dear Parent
NURSERY NURSES DISPUTE
It is with regret Nursery Nurses are forced
into taking Strike Action in pursuit of a fair
and just review of our jobs. We have been trying
for two years to resolve this through discussions
with our employers but have failed to make any
progress.
We were in talks with the Scottish employers
who then told us we should raise the issues
with our local employers. We did that and were
then told it would have to be resolved at a
Scottish level. Again, we did that only to be
told we cannot have national talks and that
we would have to resolve it with our local employers.
What we cannot understand is why we cannot
get the same wage for a Nursery Nurse in Edinburgh
as a Nursery Nurse in Glasgow. A Nursery Nurse
is a Nursery Nurse no matter where they work
and their value to a child's education is exactly
the same no matter which part of the country
they work in. Wage parity will not be achieved
through local bargaining and that is why we
lodged a national claim.
WHY ARE NURSERY NURSES TAKING ACTION?
- The job of Nursery Nurse has not been reviewed
since 1988.
- The role of a Nursery Nurse has gained significant
new and increased responsibilities given the
numerous new policies and responsibilities introduced
by the Scottish Executive as well as your local
council.
- Between January 2002 and January 2003 the
number of preschool places increased by 4 %
yet staffing dropped by 13 %. This simple statistic
underlines the increasing workloads and demands
placed on Nursery Nurses.
WHAT IS THE UNISON CLAIM?
- A new Job Description which reflects what
a Nursery Nurse's job is now rather than what
it was in 1988.
- A clear career structure
- A 35 hour working week
- Full employment status including all staff
having pension rights
- To put Nursery Nurses on the local government
pay range £17340 to £21732. For
most Nursery Nurses working term time this would
equate to £18500.
WHAT IS ON OFFER?
- All Nursery Nurses in schools and classes
to become part-time workers with potential loss
of pay and pension rights
- Pay to be considered through a Job Evaluation
scheme which does not exist
- No official offer has been made. The Scottish
employers have made recommendations to their
constituent councils which can be implemented
or ignored
- The employers stated they were prepared to
offer a salary of £18000. This is a
lie! The figure will be reduced to equate
to the term-time period and would only result
in a figure of £15500.
- The truth is that the vast majority of
qualified nursery nurses are being offered NOTHING.
The so-called £900 increase only covers
the additional working hours in the offer, AT
THE CURRENT HOURLY RATE. No wonder they are
so angry.
- There is no career structure and Heads and
Deputes of Nursery provisions have been ignored.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
- Demand your local councillor calls for a
national resolution framed round a fair deal
for Nursery Nurses. You can find out who your
councillor is by phoning the UNISON branch office
at 0131 220 5655 or the Council on 0131 200
2000. Or you can contact Cllr Frank Russell
at the City Chambers, High Street, Edinburgh.
- Lobby your MP and MSP to use whatever influence
they have to force the employers into meaningful
dialogue.
- Write to the papers and use your local talkshow
on the radio to highlight your support for Nursery
Nurses. We regret having to go on Strike for
a fair deal but with your support our dispute
can be resolved without the need for further
disruption.
Yours sincerely
BARBARA FOUBISTER
Branch Chairperson
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