Unions launch joint campaign to save nurseries in colleges and universities
18 September 2009
UNISON, NUS and UCU have today launched a joint union campaign to stop nursery closures in universities and colleges across the UK.
The unions are challenging the growing number of planned nursery closures, which will hit the low paid women who depend on them for childcare hard.
The planned closures follow drastic funding cuts announced earlier this year. The closures are contrary to Government efforts to increase the participation age of students, which is likely to see a rising demand for nursery places.
UCU General Secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'UCU is extremely concerned about the number of workplace nurseries at colleges and universities which have closed or which are threatened with closure. These short-term financial decisions will have a long-term detrimental impact on staff and students; mainly women and lone parents. It is yet more evidence of the failure of colleges and universities to take seriously their legal obligation to comply with the gender equality duty.'
Jon Richards, UNISON Senior National Officer, said: 'There are numerous people who could not have gone to university unless they had an on-site nursery to take care of their children whilst they study. Older students who have families could be forced out of further and higher education, making a mockery of Government attempts to widen participation if nurseries close.
'It will also be really tough for younger people who have children to continue their studies without childcare. They are having the rug pulled from under their feet. These cuts are a short-sighted cost cutting measure, and no-one has thought of the consequences. As well as hitting students, they will bring unnecessary redundancies, adding workers to the growing dole queues.'
Wes Streeting, President of NUS, said: 'In the current economic climate, with the prospect of many people losing their jobs and having to learn new skills in order to pursue a different line of work, it is essential that we understand how difficult it can be for those with children to cope with the demands of college or university.
'NUS' recent Meet The Parents report showed that 60 per cent of students with children have thought about leaving their course because of the difficulties they face in juggling their studies and childcare. We cannot allow this situation to get even worse by closing nursery facilities in universities and colleges.'
The unions have produced an action pack to help staff and students fight closures – these can be found .
The planned closures follow drastic funding cuts announced earlier this year. The closures are contrary to Government efforts to increase the participation age of students, which is likely to see a rising demand for nursery places.
UCU General Secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'UCU is extremely concerned about the number of workplace nurseries at colleges and universities which have closed or which are threatened with closure. These short-term financial decisions will have a long-term detrimental impact on staff and students; mainly women and lone parents. It is yet more evidence of the failure of colleges and universities to take seriously their legal obligation to comply with the gender equality duty.'
Jon Richards, UNISON Senior National Officer, said: 'There are numerous people who could not have gone to university unless they had an on-site nursery to take care of their children whilst they study. Older students who have families could be forced out of further and higher education, making a mockery of Government attempts to widen participation if nurseries close.
'It will also be really tough for younger people who have children to continue their studies without childcare. They are having the rug pulled from under their feet. These cuts are a short-sighted cost cutting measure, and no-one has thought of the consequences. As well as hitting students, they will bring unnecessary redundancies, adding workers to the growing dole queues.'
Wes Streeting, President of NUS, said: 'In the current economic climate, with the prospect of many people losing their jobs and having to learn new skills in order to pursue a different line of work, it is essential that we understand how difficult it can be for those with children to cope with the demands of college or university.
'NUS' recent Meet The Parents report showed that 60 per cent of students with children have thought about leaving their course because of the difficulties they face in juggling their studies and childcare. We cannot allow this situation to get even worse by closing nursery facilities in universities and colleges.'
The unions have produced an action pack to help staff and students fight closures – these can be found .
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