HMRC Nursery Protest in Leicester

Yesterday, concerned parents and PCS union members took part in a lunchtime protest against the abrupt decision by HRMC management to terminate their contract with Nippers Nursery, a private sector nursery provider.

Similar protests took place around the country with HMRC nursery’s also being axed in Manchester, Wolverhampton, Leeds; Nottingham, Blackburn, Cardiff, and Glasgow. The proposed closures will result in the loss of around 130 jobs across the country.

PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: “There is no justification for the closure of these nurseries which are popular, affordable and of a good quality. The decision by HMRC seems bizarre and raises serious concerns about its attitude to families and carers.  As well as threatening scores of nursery workers’ jobs, it would force parents to take a further hit in their living standards, either through reducing their hours or paying more for childcare, when they can least afford to do so.”

HMRC staff have only been given 12 weeks notice to find new nursery places for their children. However, staff have already launched a national campaign to fight the closures. With members in Leicester having set up the Facebook group (search ‘Save HMRC Nurseries’), and initiated an online petition.

HMRC staff member and parent, Lucy McMinn, spoke passionately about their campaign last week at the Leicestershire Against the Cuts public meeting. She emphasized the fact that HMC does not even subsidize nursery places for their children, but all the same, the decision to close them down was taken by HMRC. She added: “The decision to close these nurseries raises concerns about the departments’ attitude to family friendly policies.”

Lucy further explained how PCS are tying the nursery campaign into the larger Tax Justice movement, and will be lobbying relevant MPs at parliament on 17 October. She concluded: “The Leicestershire Revenue and Customs branch are very active in the campaign, and are we urging the rest of the community to join our efforts to save our nurseries.

“We still believe the department could and should consider keeping these nurseries open.”