Nursery World - Strikers set an example to children

The news story (News, 18 March) about the intimidation of non-Unison nursery nurses during the strike in Scotland rang a bell with me. I too have been subjected to the 'cold shoulder' by my striking colleagues (and erstwhile friends) since this dispute began. The treatment I have received at the hands of my colleagues has ranged from being ignored completely, to conversations stopping as soon as I walked in the room. I have also been handed Unison forms and 'asked' to 'join so that we are all the same', and been on the receiving end of comments such as 'I would rather be a picket than a scab'.

The treatment I have received at the hands of my colleagues has ranged from being ignored completely, to conversations stopping as soon as I walked in the room. I have also been handed Unison forms and 'asked' to 'join so that we are all the same', and been on the receiving end of comments such as 'I would rather be a picket than a scab'.

All logic and reason seems to go out the window as soon as people start to lose money through industrial action. The atmosphere and tension in my workplace, a local authority nursery class, has got so bad that I am off work with stress.

Register now to continue reading

Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:

What's included