Join A Union!

​​​Childcare is a workplace issue – when all the unions take seriously the fight for early years years support then we will be on our way to seeing early years workers being properly valued, and a more democratic and accessible education and childcare system for everybody. 

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As the TUC explains: unions help workers come together, demand a better deal from their employers, and raise standards for everyone. They are the reason we all enjoy paid holiday, maternity leave, and lunch breaks. 

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You have to pay a subscription to join, but the cost is based on what you earn, and they will offer you free legal advice if you need it, training and learning opportunities. There is a union for every type of worker. TUC has produced this union finder:

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FIND A UNion

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Once you join your union, you can bring motions to your local union branch, seek support for campaigns, and raise issues that impact you both in your workplace, and beyond. You can also attend your local branch meeting and bring along a motion about affiliating to our new national campaign for public childcare. 

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unions for early years workers

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The unions that organise in the early years sector are UNISON, and the National Education Union, Unite, GMB, Community and United Childcare Workers! 

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Nanny Solidarity Network is a mutual aid network (not a union) but it provides support, community and space for collective action for nannies & au pairs.

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Our oral history work with On the Record has uncovered plenty of stories of unions failing to organise or prioritise early years workers. However, we’ve also seen what happens when – predominately female – workforces refuse to be side-lined … 

 

The Islington Nursery Strike, 1984

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The Islington Nursery Strike in April 1984 saw 154 nursery staff from 12 council-run day nurseries go on 14-week strike  to secure better working conditions for themselves and the children in their care. Coinciding with the miners’ strike the action was carried out by a workforce of diverse, low paid women – who challenged Islington council to make good their promise of improving conditions in the council-run nurseries. 

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Workers and parents demonstrated together, the nursery workers picketed and parents and children occupied the town hall overnight.  The nursery workers were represented by NALGO (National Association of Local Government – now UNISON) and had to be taken as seriously as the other male-dominated roles in the council represented by the union, and to receive strike pay. But they achieved it, and NALGO members in other council departments showed their support by coming out on strike in support of the nursery workers. 

 

The strike won important improvements to the conditions of both staff and the children they cared for, with plans to increase ratios were halted in their tracks.

 

If you would like to learn more about childcare histories in London please check out our map! 

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At the map you can use the tab for 'Workers Organising' to search for union organised campaigns and actions – find out about the Balham Nursery Action Group (1975), and how dustmen refused to collect the bins in support of the nursery workers' strike, or check out the Sutton Childminders’ Action Group ​and early attempts to unionise childminders.

 

Image: Islington nursery workers on strike, supported by parents, carers and children, 1984. The 'Grow Your Own' Childcare Histories project, is run by On the Record and Post Pandemic Childcare Coalition, initially funded by Trust for London. On the Record will be running a project specifically on the Islington Strike in Autumn 2024.​