To think this smacks of top-hatted capitalism?

[LimburgseVlaai]

A friend just told me he has to take a day off because his children's school will be closed.

However... The school is willing to provide childcare at £25 per child per day.

AIBU to think this is naked capitalism/greediness of the worst kind?

Sounds market rate childcare cost to me.

opportunism of the worst kind. Is it a one-off?

Is "the school" providing the childcare, or is it a private provider using the school premises? (I'm guessing the latter).

What is the normal daily rate in your area?

It sounds a pretty normal charge to me, and could be a very welcome service for working parents.

Sounds reasonable. Presumably they would be having to hire in private 'contractors' to do the work, and is less than a day rate in normal childcare.

It's the school providing the childcare. So on the one hand, they go on strike to make a principled stand, thereby inconveniencing employed parents and depriving children of a day's schooling, but on the other hand they make a quick buck from the strike.

The opportunism just makes me feel uncomfortable. Shouldn't they be out on the picket line or marching to Westminster if they care so much?

... so it's not the sum of money that bothers me (it could be £10 or £50 for all I care).

I agree with you.

Strikers should not be working on strike days.

And certainly not at their usual workplace, even if their role on the day is amended from their normal duties.

What? So the people on strike are offering to work in the school looking after children if you pay them?

I thought there were rules to do with striking - are they allowed to do this?

I suspect they're private contractors and not the striking teachers providing the childcare, in which case I'd be delighted the school has managed to organise something to help out working parents - most haven't and with so few days holiday entitlement left at this time of year, it's a real pain in the backside.

Are the staff offering the £25-a-head childcare the same staff that are on strike from their teaching jobs?

Or is it more likely that because some/most of the staff are on strike, then the remaining non-union staff are willing to help out parents but are charging £25 to keep the numbers manageable?

Well, it depends. If it's workers in the union striking, and then coming in anyway and getting pay on the side for childcare, than YANBU. Or, it's pretty wily.

It could be that it's outside contractors, or teachers who aren't in the union and can't work (as they whole school is closed) but need money.

It won't be striking staff. The school itself isn't on strike, only some staff, so if they bring in private contractors it sounds like a good idea.

I'd be really surprised if this wasn't simply a case of the school bringing in childcare contractors from their after-school club, or something similar, as a goodwill attempt to ease parent's difficulties. The £25 will just be the cost of this commercial service and is not going to be a one-off piece of casual moonlighting on the part of teachers.

I would imagine if it is striking staff then it is flagrant flouting of union rules.

If it is legit then it sounds like a good deal to me

I imagine this is private contractors, so no.

If it's the teachers doing it, then I would be unhappy to hear that, however.

I don't think striking teachers could tbh.

If it's not the people striking who are providing the service then I can't see the problem. This will be a life-saver for many parents I imagine.

The school is willing to provide childcare at £25 per child per day

Is it really childcare, or just dumping them in front of a Disney DVD?

Sounds reasonable.