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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be annoyed about this strike?

80 replies

muggglewump · 18/08/2008 18:31

The dinner ladies at my daughter's school are striking this week, I found out via my neighbour reading on big signs outside the school advising parents they need to send their DC in with a packed lunch.
I can only assume it's over pay and/or conditions but really, the first week back at school?

OP posts:
slavemum · 18/08/2008 18:35

Whole council on strike. So no janitor, office staff, dinner ladies and classroom assistants at schools. Some schools having to close on wed.

pointydog · 18/08/2008 18:39

It's a Unison strike (and another couple of unions?) because they are being offered 2.5% pay rise. Nearly all the schools round me are closed on Wednesday.

It's no surprise they have chosen the first week back. The whole point of strike action is to cause maximum disruption. So you are being a little unreasonable.

Depends on your views of striking, I s'pose.

chelsygirl · 18/08/2008 18:47

YABU

make a pack lunch, it won't kill you

Original poster
muggglewump · 18/08/2008 18:49

Ah, now that I didn't know, I just heard dinner ladies which made me cross.
I can see the first week back would have maximum impact but still, it's kids!
I guess I hope DD's teacher will be so devoted to teaching her that she wouldn't do that, I also know I am being unreasonable on that point!
The first week back though, and big signs outside the school announcing the need for packed lunches. It bothers me.

OP posts:
2shoes · 18/08/2008 18:51

yabu

ScummyMummy · 18/08/2008 18:55

Dinner ladies earn very little, if that makes any difference to your views.

pointydog · 18/08/2008 18:58

It's nothing to do with teachers.

Original poster
muggglewump · 18/08/2008 18:59

Of course it won't kill me!
DD will get her packed lunch but I still think it's a bit off, especially for the free meal kids, and my DD is one of them.
Luckily I have enough for her to have a packed lunch this week, other weeks that may not be the case.
I didn't get a phone call either, if my neighbour hadn't told me she'd seen the signs DD would have had no lunch!
Unacceptable AFAIC

OP posts:
pointydog · 18/08/2008 19:11

You could complain to your counicl. My one has sent a letter to every family with school age children. Very expensive way of doing it but they have made sure everyone knows.

Re supplying a packed lunch - don't you also have this problem if your child is off school or if snow/heating problems close the school? The odd unexpected thing will always arise.

ScummyMummy · 18/08/2008 19:13

Yes, they should have sent a note home to make sure kids don't go lunchless. But the whole point is to make people see what happens without these people so that their value is realised and they are rewarded with a realistic payrise. Maybe you could write to your MP to say how great the dinner ladies at your school are and support their payrise demands if you feel so strongly about their excellent service?

OatcakeCravings · 18/08/2008 19:32

YABU - totally.

Are you telling me you don't think that dinner ladies have the right to strike because you can't manage to make a sandwich in the morning?! Get a grip woman!

Jbck · 18/08/2008 19:34

DD1's school sent out a note explaining why strike was on & what would happen. Children who get free meals will get a packed lunch.

Whizzz · 18/08/2008 19:35

didn't we all have the same debate during the last Unison strike in July??
The whole point of a strike is that's its supposed to disrupt & make people take notice

Purplepillow · 18/08/2008 19:38

I've had a group call from our school to say they are closed on wednesday, my dd is not happy

Doobydoo · 18/08/2008 19:38

YABU.

Waswondering · 18/08/2008 19:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Whizzz · 18/08/2008 19:46

This is the reason why there is a need to strike

Bubble99 · 18/08/2008 19:49

Depends on he dinner ladies at your school, I s'pose.

If they're good, I'd want to support them.

If they're crap (like ours) - I'd think a 2.5% pay rise was generous for standing around having not-remotely-related-to-childcare chats while children were being physically bullied in blind-spots.

Whizzz · 18/08/2008 19:50

but its not just the dinner ladies - its all council workers...

Aimsmum · 18/08/2008 19:50

Message withdrawn

Bubble99 · 18/08/2008 19:52

Well if they're crap as well, they should be pleased with 2.5%.

Probably not the best person to ask, am I?

Original poster
muggglewump · 18/08/2008 19:52

I'm not saying anyone doesn't have the right to strike, I'm saying I'm pissed off with them doing it the first week of school with no warning.
I was all set to send DD to school on Wednesday, with what she needs.
If it hadn't been for my neighbour telling me, she'd be lacking her lunch.
Is that really OK, what would they do? Phone me to quickly make a pack up when I might have nothing in, or tell me to bring her home which surely has security issues and would be still sprung on me and I might not have quick lunch food in.

A sign that I did not see is just not on, you strike, you at least let parents know by more than a sign outside the school when the kids are not there!
I'm fairly sure most parents don't walk past the school each day incase of a sign

OP posts:
hercules1 · 18/08/2008 19:53

I think it's very sad when people dont support legitimate striking. OF course it's inconvenient, that's the point...

OatcakeCravings · 18/08/2008 19:56

No warning

Its been in every newspaper and every newsbroadcast that council workers are going to be on strike on Wednesday for weeks now.

Bubble99 · 18/08/2008 20:00

hercules. I suppose it depends how you define 'legitimate striking'

By that I mean whether the people involved deserve more money - not whether the strike is legitimate, ie. not 'wildcat' - is that the term I mean?

Our dinner ladies (on the whole) do a minimum job for a minimum wage.

Seems fair to me.