Nursery workers strike

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Nursery workers in NALGO staged a one-day strike on Thursday 9th July after Oxfordshire's Education Committee recom -mended a further attack on nursery provision in the county.

From September 1982 the adult-child ratio is to be 1:13 in nursery schools, and 1:15 in classes.

The Department of Education and Science recommends 1:10 in schools and 1:13 in classes, yet in Oxfordshire the average ratios are 1:11 in classes and 1:10 in schools.

Also, seven nursery schools are to close and their places will be established in classes of first schools.

Originally, the council planned to close ten of the twelve nursery schools in the county, but after much campaigning agreed to recommend only seven.

There can be no question that it is those schools that have fought the hardest which have been reprieved.

The ratio changes will mean a loss of over 30 jobs, the closing of much-needed facilities, the worsening of standards, and an unsafe environment for the under-5s. In the ballot tor industrial action, only two nursery workers voted against the strike.

Over 80 people attended a public meeting at the Town Hall on the day of the strike.

This shows once that workers will take action if given a strong lead. But they must not be left isolated. NUT members, who will be left having to cope with these ratios, need to take action alongside NALGO.

The most recent similar attack was in Nottingham in 1979, when over 136 nursery workers lost their jobs. When teacher Eileen Crosbie then refused to take a class with inadequate staffing, she was sached. In the recent Col ty Council elections Lal ir gained control, and tileen Crosbie and the nursery workers have now been reinstated.

Victories can be won: hke the two victories of the Leicest Nursery • Carnpaign. waff were being run dow. in order to close the nursery, and NALGO demanded and got proper staffing. Beal Street play centre was occupied in March by parents and supporters to stop its closure, and is now to be returned to its original use.

Oxford also had its own victory in 1980, when strong campaigning resulted in the Tories having to retreat from their plans for complete abolition of nursery provision in the county.

The campaign round the ratios has to be fought and won. The stand by these workers has to be continued after the summer holidays with join industrial action.

Meanwhile a lobby of the full council is being called on Tuesday 28th July.

ANN McKINLEY