The Socialist 3 October 2012

Let's get a million on the streets, then a 24-hour general strike

Tory education policy: 'This is just about making cuts isn't it?'

Building the fightback in the universities

Suspended student union president continues fight for reinstatement

NUT activists prepare for action

Barnfield College, Luton: Kick private profit out of education

Partial victory for international students at London Metropolitan

No to slave labour in universities

Europe: Class struggle returns with a bang

South Africa: Solidarity with miners

Algerian war of independence 1954-1962

Action against Profit From Illness!

South West NHS workers want action against 'pay cartel'

Save Greater Manchester mental healthcare

Cut the Con-Dems - not our NHS!

Bin workers calling indefinite strike brought results

Day of Action to save HMRC nurseries

Crossrail flashmob blocks London's Oxford Street

Arts and culture workers need to fight back

The fight of all our lives - For a 24-hour general strike

Councillors must resist all Tory cuts

Thousands march for an independent Scotland

March for Jobs in Scotland

Rape is No Joke campaign discussed

Scotland: Lamont throws Labour Party into crisis

Sickened by Labour conference? Build the anti-cuts alternative!

Council tax benefit - new and not improved

Squatting conviction paves way for rise in homelessness




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Leicester HMRC Nursery protest, 27.9.12, photo Karl Cross (Click to enlarge)

Day of Action to save HMRC nurseries

Around 30 parents and children who use the nursery at the HMRC site in Nottingham protested this morning against its proposed closure.

Wearing colourful t-shirts, blowing whistles and waving flags and banners made it a very lively and noisy protest.

This was part of a national day of action to save the nurseries at several sites across the country. PCS members are angry about the closure as they feel that the sites will be sold off to or rented by a private company for their own use. However, they are not being told by HMRC why it is being closed.

Parents on the protest told the Socialist how beneficial it is to have a nursery at work so that they can bring their children there and manage their working hours to be able to take their children home at a reasonable time.

If they need to find alternative childcare, it will cause massive disruption to their and their children's lives. And that's if they can find a place elsewhere!

There was much support from other workers at the site and from people walking and driving past. PCS will be discussing the next steps in this campaign to save the nurseries.

Becci Heagney, Nottingham Socialist Party

Leicester HMRC Nursery protest, 27.9.12, photo Karl Cross (Click to enlarge)

Leeds

Leeds HMRC PCS workers protest proposals to close nurseries, photo by Iain Dalton (Click to enlarge)

Around 30 PCS reps and activists protested outside Peter Bennett House in West Park, Leeds today against the proposals to close eight workplace nurseries in HMRC, including at that site.

Parents have been given only 12 weeks' notice of these changes whilst most other nurseries have six month waiting lists and are likely to be more expensive.

These closures will cost nursery workers their jobs as well as affecting some HMRC staff who will be forced to either reduce their hours or give up work because of the lack of childcare facilities.

Leeds HMRC PCS workers protest against proposals to close nurseries, photo by Iain Dalton (Click to enlarge)

Many reps were angry that HMRC calls itself a family-friendly employer but can't even provide something as basic as childcare. The campaign is ongoing, demanding that all the nurseries are kept open.

A petition can be signed at bit.ly/OftEwo and letters of complaint can be sent to david.gauke@hmtreasury.gsi.gov.uk

Iain Dalton, Leeds North West Socialist Party

This version of this article was first posted on the Socialist Party website on 27 September 2012 and may vary slightly from the version subsequently printed in The Socialist.

In this issue

Education news & analysis

Tory education policy: 'This is just about making cuts isn't it?'