Since March 1, 5000 Scottish nursery nurses (childcare workers) have been on strike for better pay. It is 15 years since the low-paid workers had a pay review. Currently paid £13,000 a year, the workers are demanding £18,000.
While more than 11 councils have negotiated agreements, the workers have been holding out for a national agreement that will ensure everyone gets a fair deal. A protest in Edinburgh on March 29 was attended by 2000 striking workers.
Ninety-thousand Scottish civil service workers have also been taking strike action for better pay and against an employers performance assessment scheme.
The Scottish Socialist Party has called a Glasgow public rally in support of the strikers for April 20.
The nursery nurses now have a website on the strike, which is updated frequently and where messages of support can be displayed. Visit <http://pages.ivillage.com/unitedwestand//index.html>.
From Green Left Weekly, April 21, 2004.
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