Mount Pleasant nursery saved!
3rd July 2012
CWU's campaign to save Mount Pleasant nursery at Royal
Mail's Farringdon site has won! The long-term future of the
London nursery is now secure and it will be fully refurbished over
the summer, to the relief of parents with young children who were
facing a tough choice between finding childcare elsewhere or
leaving their jobs to look after their children.
Royal Mail had announced last autumn they intended to close the nursery - run by a separate company called Kiddycare - as part of cost saving measures. Months of campaigning by the union, postal workers and the families which rely on the facility followed with protests, petitions and publicity - including a weekly 'Toddlers Tuesday' protest - finally forcing Royal Mail into a review of the decision.
CWU equality officer Linda Roy explained:
"We're elated that this crucial facility has been saved.
If the CWU had not opposed Royal Mail's proposed closure of the
crèche last November some of our members would have faced a
difficult choice of paying exorbitant childcare fees elsewhere or
terminating their employment. Everyone should be delighted with the
outcome."
CWU secured a 'stay of execution' in September 2011 and
has since worked with Royal Mail and the nursery provider
Kiddycare to scope workable operating models which meet the costs
of running the nursery while protecting affordable childcare for
workers.
The solution involves increasing the basic charge to Royal Mail employees from £112 to £122 per child per week (for full time care) and opening up ten of the 29 places to children of parents outside of Royal Mail at a higher cost. National Education Grants, which entitle all three and four year olds to 15 hours of free childcare per week during term time, will also be used to reduce Royal Mail's costs.
Jim Kirwan, CWU London Regional Secretary, said: "We have worked tirelessly to keep this facility open and our efforts have been rewarded. We have to thank the hard work of everyone involved in the campaign and it's really great news for those who rely on the nursery."
Linda added: "We've worked very hard with parents
and members of Mount Pleasant to keep this facility open and secure
its future for the benefit of our members. We've also secured
an agreement to monitor the nursery to ensure that it is meeting
the needs of our members and their children."
The nursery is now looking forward to a refurbishment and
welcoming new toddlers.
Are you interested in sending your child to Kiddycare at Mount
Pleasant? Complete this
application form to register your child now.
Find out more about CWU's campaign by visiting Save Mount Pleasant Nursery.
