Hundreds march to defend the right to Community Creches

dublin | worker & community struggles and protests | news report

Tuesday December 09, 2008 19:01

by Paula Geraghty

mspgeraghty at yahoo dot ie

Buses were organised from Ballyfermot, another créche marched from The Coombe, Roscommon was present as was Ringsend and many other creches from around Dublin city and nationwide. Everyone taking a stand- not about the low pay, not about the conditions but about their and other childrens futures. Fed up of being considered babysitters, creche workers supported by parents, politicians and the SIPTU Community Branch (who organised the protest) marched to the to the Office of Minister of Children, Hawkins House, Poolbeg St., Dublin 2, to hand in their letters

A protest was held earlier this morning in Cork to co-incide with the Dublin protest.

Bottom line this is how cutting back on the community creches will affect people:
* Reduced funding for a large minority of projects
* A dramatic rise in costs for parents, up €113 a week extra per child in some instances
* A focus on children of social welfare parents, at the expense of a good social mix and a community ethos
* A real risk that projects will close
* No provision for good wages or conditions
* Increased job insecurity

The Ballyers, Raytowners, the guys from Whitefriar Street, North Clondalkiners et al. made their voices load and clear at the Ministers Offices.

The Siptu Community Branch can be contacted at 01 8586367, Darragh, Stephen, Shonagh or Kathleen will take to you and help you to organise your creche for everyone's future.

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