Darlington council lobbied over nursery closures
(07/01/13) UNISON members will lobby Darlington councillors tomorrow as they meet to decide whether to close down two council-run nurseries.
Union members have been campaigning alongside parents against the proposals to close the Kids and Co nurseries which would mean the loss of 180 childcare places and up to 43 redundancies.
UNISON assistant branch secretary Dawn Taylor told local paper The Northern Echo that “Kids and Co has been operated by the council since 1994 and has helped hundreds of parents in work and education through its flexible approach to childcare and as a viable alternative to often unaffordable private provision."
She added that the union is "acutely aware of the drastic situation the council faces as a consequence of the government’s cuts agenda, but at a time when people are facing true hardship, when they need to be in work or training and need their children looked after, this lifeline service is needed more than ever."
Closing the nurseries "would be a step backward for many," she said.
UNISON in local government UNISON Northern region UNISON Darlington branch
