Support Scotland's Nursery Nurses

The nursery nurses' strike in Scotland is still holding firm. Over 4,000 nursery nurses are now in their sixth week of strike action.

Last week, the local authority employers CoSLA were forced to hold their first meeting to consider their response to the longest running all-out action by a group of workers in Scotland since the 1984-1985 miners' strike.

CoSLA refused to accept the principle of a national agreement and urged councils to offer local deals in the 20 councils still in dispute with the nursery nurses.

Nursery nurses have overwhelmingly rejected local deals in favour of a Scotland-wide agreement that would give them the same pay and conditions, regardless of which council they work for.

There are signs, however, that some Scottish UNISON officials are seeking to accept local deals as the only way to resolve the dispute. This must be rejected.

Nursery nurses in Dundee and in other areas marked the anniversary of the suffragette movement last week by protesting dressed in the uniforms of the suffragettes from 90 years ago.

Using slogans such as "Deeds not words" and "Women still fighting low pay 90 years on," they campaigned at the Scottish parliament.

In some areas local demonstrations are being planned to coincide with the PCS strike on 14 April.

Nursery nurses urgently need your backing - send messages of support and donations to: Carol Ball c/o UNISON,14 West Campbell Street. Glasgow G2 6RX.

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In The Socialist 10 April 2004:

Fight The Low Pay Scandal