Staff at a Knowsley nursery are set to begin the first of three days of strike action tomorrow after an “insulting” pay offer.
Nursery workers at The Orchard Day Nursery in Huyton voted to carry out the industrial action after being offered a pay rise below the living wage, according to a UNISON spokesperson.
The first planned day of action will take place tomorrow, March 15, with workers at the large nursery, which looks after 200 young children and employs 48 staff also set to walk out for two days next week.
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A UNISON spokesperson said workers at the nursery contacted the union in September over concerns about low pay and staff retention.
Following attempts at negotiation, a revised offer was made which remained below the foundation living wage for some staff. A ballot was carried out with 100% of all those asked voting in favour of industrial action.
The spokesperson said parents had been informed of the planned action, which is also due to take place on March 21 and 23.
One parent whose daughter attends the nursery contacted the LDRS saying they “fully support the staff’s decision to strike with the cost of living crisis which is currently taking place”.
An online petition has also been circulated with hundreds of signatories in support of striking staff.
UNISON branch organiser Karen Greer said: “These workers are vital to our community, and this pay offer is an insult to the work they put in year-round to care for and educate young children and to enable their parents to go to work.
“We urge Orchard Day Nursery to make a reasonable offer to these members so that children can get back into nursery, parents can get back to work and staff at the nursery can secure a decent standard-of-living.”
Orchard Day Nursery have been approached for comment.
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