THE fight for adequate childcare provision is a fundamental one in the fight for women's rights. Until it is accepted that women should not necessarily have to bear full responsibility for children, then our right to work and our right to participate as free and equal people in society will never be realised.
But childcare in this country is still a luxury for the few and, like everything else, under the Tories.
Only 38 OI under fives in the United Kingdom receive some sort of day care. But much of Huisery classes, pre-school play - is part time and doesn't …cover normal working day.
Less than one in a hundred fives have places in local authority day nurseries Private nurseries cater for the 10 per cent who can afford it.
Registered and unregistered childminders provide the bulk ol ine full day care for the under fives.
Lack Of course it has not alwavs been as bad as that Just after the Second World War when women's labour was required by the there SLaLc borough nurseries in Bricompared to 453 Lalll. 1970. How cynical that the lives women and children can be chopped and changed in this way to suit the needs of an elite.
The appalling lack of childcare provision forces women back into the home what should be a collective responsibiliiv. It forces tem to take part time or low paid jobs which fit in with nursery The fight BOURS. nurseries vital for women, children, and for the quality of of everyone.
Labour Party is currenv working document which sets out the different facilities needed. It is vital that the campaign is steppru up ool against ine Tories and to commit a future Labour government.
There are many areas for discussion.
Childminders provide the most common form of and whilst provision is so inadequate elsewhere should demand that child minders are registered and recognise that many women prefer the individual attention the child But this kind of provision, ol course. lets the welfare state off the hook and is not necessarily adequate.
Workplace nurseries are another option which are becoming more popu¡nese are ol a new idea. In the textile towns in ine nortn tney usca to be d feature of factory premises tor a traditionally female workforce.
Goal Although expensive, on any women oreler such facilities. The convenience, however, may be ourweignec by Tne fact that when a parent loses MUSCLY place goes too. It could be a weapon in the hands of ine employer.
Our ultimate goal has to be for the provision of slale run tree nurseries to meet the demand. year ago, and for the first time in this country, a national campaign was launched to fight for this aim.
campaign significant because it brings disparate local campaigns and its national focus is able to take the issue up with the maor trade union. Hor uriner intormation con. tact National Childcare Campaign Victoria Park Square, London E2 When women's labour is in the 'national' interest, nursery places are forthcoming Led around the following demands:
provision, toy libraries, Every Nursery democratically parents, for local parents, want The National Child Care Campaign is organis• Local Nursery Centres which would make full time provision involving both care and education and which should develop facilities for the local community such as after school drop in centres.
Centre should be controlled, giving staff, local people and local groups the chance to participate fully in the management and running of the centre. They would employ and provide opportunities for training thus offering those who it an alternative community-based • We support the unionisation of child care and the provision of training facilities for down the nursery and nursery education, and to field where they have been excluded. • We stand in adequate provision.
paigns, with appropriate own much needed services. child care workers with the aim of breaking theoretical division between encourage older people and men to enter this complete opposition to the rundown and closure of the present totally in• We offer our support and advice to cam parents and staff in fighting these cuts and urde the trades unions involved ti support their action, such as occupations of treatenea nurseries, aerenaing start ratios direct action, including strikes to defend their members jobs and our