A Northern Ireland teacher, who was still breast-feeding when she returned to work after maternity leave, was forced to express milk in a car park because no room could be found for her in the school, a union says.
The teacher, who wants to remain anonymous, said her principal had reacted with a “complete lack of understanding” at her even asking for a “quiet private place” where she could express milk, according to the Ulster Teachers’ Union.
Rebekka Gilpin, an official with the UTU, said: “The result is that this new mum ended up in her car at lunchtimes, in all weathers, without privacy or dignity expressing milk for her new baby. Surely this cannot be right.”
At its annual conference in the Roe Valley Hotel today, the UTU is using its resolutions to call for an agreed framework allowing breastfeeding mums who wish to either nurse their baby or express milk to remain, with understanding and dignity, in the workplace to do so.
“There was nothing dignified about what this teacher was forced to do. I was actually shocked to think someone could be treated this way in this day and age,” said Ms Gilpin, who is proposing the resolution.
“The issue arises in the first place because the cost of living crisis and low maternity pay force many mums back to work before their maternity entitlement has expired so many are still breastfeeding when they find themselves in school again.
“Most schools in such circumstances will find a mum a safe, warm place on the premises where she can express milk but the fact this situation was even able to arise shows that there is in fact no formalised support to ensure such teachers have protection in these circumstances.
“When I was first made aware of this situation I immediately looked for guidance to schools governing such issues and was shocked to find there wasn’t any.
“This is even though the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations from 1999 state that, women who want to either nurse their baby or express milk should be found a ‘clean and private’ room. However, few teachers or principals seem to be aware of this.”
She added: “With this teacher’s experience, it’s little wonder the UK has one of the lowest breastfeeding rates in the world or that within the UK, Northern Ireland is bottom of the league.
“The health benefits for mum and baby with regard to breastfeeding are well-documented. UNICEF too is vocal on the issue citing that while mums who choose not to breastfeed shouldn’t be stigmatised, those who do should have the backing of formalised guidelines on what’s expected from employers to support them.
“It’s not rocket science to ensure there’s something in place to allow these women to carry on breastfeeding their babies on their return to work, it’s such a fundamental issue.
“We hope the employers will now work with us to ensure no other teacher is forced to express milk in her car because there was no room at the school.”
