The news that the University of South Wales intends to privatise its popular crèche has met with anger amongst staff. The nursery is to be outsourced on 31 July with the twelve members of staff moving to the new company.
UNISON has complained that the university has not properly involved members of staff in the decision.
Dan Beard, UNISON branch secretary said,
“The crèche provides an excellent service to student-parents, university staff and those in the local community. Parents have made very clear how much they value the care and support given by team and they take every opportunity to acknowledge how hard the crèche staff work. It is really disappointing that the university would want to undermine this success with privatisation.
“Crèche staff are distraught. They have been totally cut out of this decision and the university authorities haven’t given them any reasonable justification whatsoever for the privatisation.
“We are willing to work with the university to look at where sensible savings can be made which allow this great crèche to be retained in-house. UNISON knows from bitter experience that when a transfer of staff takes place, the new organisation cuts wages and employment conditions as soon as it is able. Privatisation can only mean the service gets worse for the kids and parents.
“The depth of public support for the crèche has been demonstrated in two public rallies and a petition and we’ve been pleased to have the support of local MP Owen Smith too. We are going to fight this every step of the way to protect nursery staff and the quality of nursery care.”
ENDS
Contact
Alastair Gittins, UNISON press officer 07816 53 83 97