Barnsley nursery staff walk out over pension changes

Thirty-three women stand outside a nursery in Grimethorpe, South Yorkshire, holding banners to mark their first day on strike. They have joined a walkout at six nurseries currently managed by Barnsley council. The action comes after the council’s Reform UK leadership agreed to transfer the facilities to private companies. The workers argue the move threatens the services provided to vulnerable children and negatively impacts their pension entitlements.

All members of the GMB union in the relevant bargaining unit voted for the strike. The ballot saw a 100% turnout in favor of the walkout. Victoria Austin, a GMB regional organiser, noted that low-paid working women taking this step is a strong signal. She described the staff’s daily efforts as above and beyond, stating that the council should be celebrating that work rather than changing its structure.

The privatisation plans originated under the previous Labour administration. Councillors at that time had assured staff that their pay and benefits, including pensions, would remain unchanged. Austin said the Reform leadership, which took control of the council at the local elections in May after 50 years of Labour rule, was focused on balancing the books. She characterized the new administration as uninterested in the workers’ specific concerns. The council informed staff about the impact on their pensions 36 hours before the transfer was scheduled to take effect, according to Austin.

Local residents view the nursery transfer as part of a wider pattern of budget cuts by Reform-led councils. This has included closing care homes and reducing social care funding. Austin argued that an elected council’s priority should be ensuring children are not left behind and that communities are treated fairly.

The transition has faced logistical hurdles. One nursery is currently closed because the council deregistered it with Ofsted to allow a private provider to take over. The private provider subsequently withdrew its application. The council stated it had no legal obligation to run nursery services. It claimed the change would reduce the amount of council tax money required to support the facilities.

Council leaders said they received legal advice confirming staff were no longer eligible for the local government pension scheme prior to the transfer. The council said this information was shared quickly with staff and trade unions. William Brown, the leader of Barnsley council, expressed disappointment that GMB members voted for strike action. He said the transfer decision was made to protect jobs and retain services for families. Brown added that additional provision was made for families on the three strike days and that engagement with the union continues.

Staff at Darfield nursery, including Kimberley Darlington, Emma Jones, Lucy Kolconko and Charlotte Hawe, say the strike is about protecting the families they support as well as their pension value. Hawe described her role as the first point of contact for many families, noting she has arranged food parcels for those in need. Kolconko has driven families to doctor appointments when necessary. Darlington recalled visiting a home to show a parent how to play with her child with special educational needs and disabilities because the parent was unsure how to proceed.

The team has taught a three-year-old child with special educational needs to walk, a milestone the parent had not achieved. They also helped a family living with a rat infestation and mouldy walls get assistance from their landlord. The workers believe they would not have time to perform these tasks in a private setting. In Barnsley, each nursery worker cares for four children over the age of two. In private settings, that ratio can rise to five children. Kolconko said the staff had done extensive work for the community, and the council had turned on them.

The strike is scheduled for three days. The council says it is continuing to talk with the union to resolve the dispute.