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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:
cjbartlett · 25/11/2011 12:11

could you ask your family to give you some cash now instead of a xmas present this year?

cjbartlett · 25/11/2011 12:17

anyway to answer your 'what am I meant to do?' I'd start saving now if you really think they'll be more strikes in the new year

I'd ask around at school to see if you can offer to look after a school friend on a day you don't work in return for them having your child on a strike day

I'd start thinking of solutions now

GypsyMoth · 25/11/2011 12:19

I have 2 coming for a 'playdate' lol, they are 9

Have them today too on onset day

Snapespeare · 25/11/2011 12:56

Big Dave Hameron suggests taking your child to work with you Hmm any chance? I'd suggest emailing Dave, but wary of the outcome!

I do appreciate it is really very difficult for parents with children who will have their schools shut and need to try to find alternative childcare - However I think that the governments stance is agressive and confrontational and without wanting to ressurect the whole public sector pensions argument - it's not just public servants pensions being attacked - in my mind the day of strike action is linked to cuts in general - for example 124 sure start centres have closed since the coalition came to power - reduced chances for our children etc.

If your employer wants you at work, they are meant to support you. Have you asked employer what they would prefer you to do to ensure that you can work that day? Do you have colleagues in a similar situation?

MadamTwoSwords · 25/11/2011 12:59

What is with the "free childminding" bullshit?
Am I incorrect in thinking that education is compulsory and also technically paid for out of the OP's taxes that she pays so therefore not free or even childcare?

SingingSands · 25/11/2011 13:11

That education has been compared to "free childminding" has really rattled my cage. Do teachers think they are childminders? Do parents not pay taxes? Do children not have the right to education?

I appreciate that the OP is going to find things hard following this strike day. Lots of people are going to be inconvenienced by this, either in time or money. I'm lucky to have an out of school club to send DD to that day, but the money is going to have come out of my household budget, which means cutting back elsewhere, I don't have a contingency fund in case the public sector wants to strike and I don't think I should have to either.

Abra1d · 25/11/2011 13:12

YANBU at feeling less than delighted at being heavily out of pocket because public sector workers insist that the rest of us keep on paying for their pensions, pensions that none of the rest of us have had for years now.

Callisto · 25/11/2011 13:19

I'm staggered that anyone would think we should all start saving just in case there are more strikes. Strike away fuckwits, ensure that the economy is even more fucked and that it will be even more hard to fund your pensions and then tell everyone that it's not your fault things are so dire and that perhaps we should have had the foresight to save some money. Jesus fucking H.

WorraLiberty · 25/11/2011 13:20

Would the OP have to pay for childcare from 9am to 3pm if her child was pre school age? - Yes

Does she have to pay for childcare from 9am to 3pm now her child is of a school age? - No

Therefore, childcare has become free for the OP hasn't it?

Yes she pays tax but then she'd still have to pay it even if she didn't have kids

As I said, it's just another way of looking at this more positively...though it's not going to help financially.

knittedbreast · 25/11/2011 13:24

if i were you i would aquire a bug of some kind on that day.

Zanywany · 25/11/2011 13:24

YANU Watch. I am fortunate in that my parents live up the road and can have my DC's but if it wasn't for them I would be in the same position. As a single Mum who works I have to watch every penny and £30 is alot.

Whilst I sympathise that the terms of the pensions aren't what the teachers signed up for we are in a recession and I for one feel lucky to still be in a job. Alot of us don't have pensions as they are a 'luxury' we can't afford.

Free childcare is a ridiculas statement to make

cjbartlett · 25/11/2011 13:25

I'm staggered that anyone would think we should all start saving just in case there are more strikes

callisto - I didn't mean exactly that just that everyone should have a bit of money for a rainy day

even if it's just £30 to cover childcare because school is shut for a snow day for example

cjbartlett · 25/11/2011 13:26

knittedbreast - where I work that would be so obvious 'oh you were off sick, on the day your kid's school was closed for the strike?' I'd be laughed out of work

cjbartlett · 25/11/2011 13:27

anyway where is the OP? writing notes for her article? Wink

Callisto · 25/11/2011 13:32

Strikes should not equate to a rainy day fgs. Why the fuck should the whole country grind to a halt because you don't want to work until you're 67, even though the rest of us will have to work until we drop to fund your pensions and early retirement. This strike is going to cost the economy a vast amount of money, it is short-sighted, selfish and ultimately futile.

soandsosmummy · 25/11/2011 13:34

YANBU OP. This is not an act of God, its an act of the unions and they have made it publicly known they want to cause as much disruption as possible - and I am afraid that includes to people like you who are at the bottom of the financial heap and least able to deal with it.

This and earlier governments pushed single mums into work saying they could work round their children being at school - not so easy if the school isn't open really!

I hope you find some help. Do you have any friends who may be able to have her for the day - in exchange maybe offer to have their for the night sometime so they can have an evening out

stuffthenonsense · 25/11/2011 13:38

Really p'ed off at the free childcare jibes. That is so not acceptable. Education is compulsory, it is NOT something parents 'use' to enable them to go out to work...for goodness sake, its not a good solution for childcare when there are SO many compulsory holidays in there. Yes, of course parents use the situation to enable them to go out to work..but it doesnt sort out childcare really does it? How many jobs out there ACTUALLY fit in with school times/holidays/training days and now strikes. I am sure most parents wouldnt choose such an unreliable service if they saw it as CHILDCARE, school is a compulsory situation that most working parents struggle to fit their own jobs around. And to the teachers who use this argument (i am assuming you are a teacher if you are accusing parents of seeing you as childcare), i would ask if you therefore put your own children through a private education. OP i am not in your situation but i really do feel for you, its awful....maybe if the unions really do care about workers rights etc, then THEY will pay your childcare for the day instead of shafting the rest of the society for the benefit of their members.

Zanywany · 25/11/2011 13:42

When my DC's went to a childminder for their CHILDCARE then she would find an alternative arrangement if she was unable to look after my DC's on a particular day. I don't see the schools doing this!

cjbartlett · 25/11/2011 13:43

callisto who are you talking to? teachers?

Original poster
watchoutforthatsnail · 25/11/2011 13:44

cjbartlett - im a regular, snape and zany can vouch for me, been here for 6 years.

i sent a begging email to the boss and have been granted leave. thank goodness.

Its a very very difficult position to be in, with all leave being refused, calling in sick would show you ina very poor light as well as letting workmates down. If you have a job you dont want to rock the boat, especially in todays economy.

I do support the stikes to an extent, i understand how they must feel, but i worry that there are lots and lots of people like me, families that are trying to work, but are low earners / or single parents that are not at home and cannot afford the extra childcare and they are the ones that are going to be financially hit now.
My parents also work, none of which are retired yet ( my dad is 63) If they could help, they would, but they cant. Friends are mostly in the same boat, or not offering up help ( and why would they, its unlikely i can return the favor on the next strike)

and as for saving for a rainy day... yeah, 10p a week or something? lol honestly, you cannot know what its like to be skint.

and 'free childcare' is ridiclous. Just ridiclous.

OP posts:
EcoLady · 25/11/2011 13:47

The childcare jibes are being made because it's only ever childcare that parents are moaning about.
Has there been anyone on here complaining that their DCs are missing a day's education? No - people complain about having to find alternative childcare.
Was the OP saying that she's paying out £30 for a tutor? No, just childcare.

Can anyone really blame teachers for getting annoyed about this?

cjbartlett · 25/11/2011 13:47

I do know what it's like to be skint

and I don't think yabu to be worried

turns out the worry was for nothing because you've found a solution Smile

Snapespeare · 25/11/2011 13:48

really glad it got sorted out watch - nice to see some common sense prevailing.

..and of course glad to 'vouch' that you're not a sleazy tabloid journo. :)

SardineQueen · 25/11/2011 13:48

--If schools were there for free childcare they would be open 8-6 or even 7-7 and through all the holidays like private preschool care.

The school day and term as it stands is worked out for the benefit of children not for the benefit of working parents. Ridiculous to say otherwise. My child's school day is shorter than it was at her bog-standard preschool.

Anyway

OP I think that YANBU at all to be upset about the big impact this is going to have on you. The idea of asking at school if any of your DDs friends parents can have her and you return the favour another time is a good one.

SardineQueen · 25/11/2011 13:50

Glad it is sorted OP.

Reading your post I wonder if these strikes will actually work to the benefit of government ideology - making it difficult for women with children to work and getting sacked/finding it harder to find work. Because it still usually is the women who are impacted when schools are not open.