Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

aibu to be worried at how much these strikes are going to cost me financially?

149 replies

watchoutforthatsnail · 25/11/2011 11:36

I'm a lone working parent, part time work, low wage.
I have noone that can look after dd. All annual leave is being refused.
I have found childcare at a cost of £30, which I can't really afford, least of all right now.

The news is reporting that this will be the first of many, and I'm sure I can't be the only one in this situation.

What am I meant to do?

OP posts:
GypsyMoth · 25/11/2011 11:37

Yanbu!

EcoLady · 25/11/2011 11:39

People are striking because they are worried about how much the proposed changes to their jobs are going to cost them financially.

What are THEY meant to do?

Striking is the last resort. No-one does it lightly.

WorraLiberty · 25/11/2011 11:41

What would you do if your child was ill?

Original poster
watchoutforthatsnail · 25/11/2011 11:43

Yes, yes. I understand that, and that's fair and all. However. £30 is 2/3rds of my weekly food budget, meaning for one week we wikl need to live off £10.

Is that fair?
I don't even have a pension becsuse I can't afford to pay into one.

OP posts:
Original poster
watchoutforthatsnail · 25/11/2011 11:45

If my child was ill I would have tge day off and make up tge time later. Annual leave has been refused ( though I have days owing)

OP posts:
grovel · 25/11/2011 11:46

YANBU to be worried. Of course not.

anewyear · 25/11/2011 11:47

Have you tried any childminders around where you live?
Where abouts are you?
What sort of hours would you need, there are a few childminders on here,
there may be someone in your area that can help?
If you click on Talk, top left hand side of the page, a little way down the menu it has a section for 'Childminders, Nannies, AuPairs click on that and repost your question there.
HTH

2BoysTooLoud · 25/11/2011 11:47

Yanbu.
Snow days/ acts of God/ sickness are different to covering strike action in my opinion.
Public sector workers are choosing to strike- the op is not choosing to give her child the day off and pay 30 quid for child care.

WidowWadman · 25/11/2011 11:48

anewyear - do you reckon any of the childminders will offer their help for free?

slavetofilofax · 25/11/2011 11:48

Yes, it is fair.

What isn't fair is the way public sector workers are being screwed over. It's also not fair that people will have to have hospital treatments postponed just so that the people that provide much needed services get listened to.

I understand that it's hard when you have to worry about the financial impact of the strike, but you have to try and put that into perspective.

2BoysTooLoud · 25/11/2011 11:50

No its not bloody fair on the op.
Even if sympathetic to strike action it IS costing her and she has a right to be worried and upset about it.

WorraLiberty · 25/11/2011 11:51

It is tough, especially if you're on a low wage

But I suppose you could look at how much free childminding you've already had while your child is at school.

It won't help you financially, but it might help you look at it differently.

Original poster
watchoutforthatsnail · 25/11/2011 11:51

If my child was ill I would have tge day off and make up tge time later. Annual leave has been refused ( though I have days owing)

OP posts:
WibblyBibble · 25/11/2011 11:51

You can take unpaid parental leave (you're legally entitled to two weeks a year) if you get paid less than your childcare costs. Otherwise you aren't really that low paid, are you? What would you do if your child was too sick to be in free childcare for over 5s school?

Sidge · 25/11/2011 11:53

YANBU to be worried at all.

I am one of the public sector workers that is affected by the proposed pension changes (but am not striking) and am still pissed off at the fact I have to find the additional costs for childcare for 2 children for a day when they'd normally be at school.

That doesn't mean I'm not sympathetic to those striking - the two are not mutually exclusive.

gateacre1 · 25/11/2011 11:56

the school I work at, will offer to help parents in situations like these. Try calling the school and see if there is anything they can do to help.

Original poster
watchoutforthatsnail · 25/11/2011 11:57

Lol, at how much ' free chikdminding' I've already had.
LOL, yeah..... No reply to that.

I do have sympathy, and I can understand, and yes, its unfair on everyone.
But when it means that week ill Either have no heating, or serious lack of food because.of it then I get a bit worried.

And I'm.sure I can't be the only one in my position.

OP posts:
nofrikkincarbs · 25/11/2011 11:57

watchoutforthatsnail a colleague of mine suggested trying to rally round all the other mums/dads/care givers at school and finding out if there is a way the sahp's can help out the wohp's - maybe you could do this too?

Original poster
watchoutforthatsnail · 25/11/2011 12:00

Wibbly, we have been told we all need to be at work that day, any kind of leave, entitled to or not, is not an option.

OP posts:
nofrikkincarbs · 25/11/2011 12:00

WorraLiberty free childminding, or compulsory education?

cjbartlett · 25/11/2011 12:01

surely you're dd has a friend who could have her to play for the day?

has she a dad , grandparent who could help?

what do you do before and afterschool for childcare?

trixymalixy · 25/11/2011 12:03

I'm sure all the teachers think they are a bit more than a free childminding service Hmm.

2BoysTooLoud · 25/11/2011 12:03

I sympathise watchoutforthatsnail.
As I have said before I don't think you can compare sickness or snow days to strike action.
And yes- compulsory education and not free child care!!

WorraLiberty · 25/11/2011 12:03

It equates to exactly the same thing nofrikkincarbs

I'm just offering the OP a different way of looking at it.

Original poster
watchoutforthatsnail · 25/11/2011 12:07

Dd has a dad in the forces who can't get the day off.
All other family work and have been told no leave ( or its gone to those with children)

My childminder does the school run and I collect. And if it were normal childcare I would be able to cliam 70% Costa back, but I can't with this.

OP posts: