General Council statement on childcare at TUC events
Congress 2007 - General Council statement
Childcare at TUC events
This statement explains the General Council policy on childcare at TUC events and has been prepared in response to the criticisms of the General Council made in the motion selected by delegates at the 2007 TUC Women's Conference as the Conference's motion to Congress.
The General Council emphasises that all trade unionists, including those with childcare responsibilities, need to be able to make a full contribution to trade union events and also recognises the fact that lack of provision by the trade union movement, along with many other organisations in society, has meant that parents have been denied the opportunity to participate fully in our events.
The General Council also recognises that women still shoulder the bulk of caring responsibilities in society and that single parents face particular pressures. Therefore the provision of childcare facilities is an integral part of the commitment to promote equality which now forms part of the TUC constitution and which unions are obliged to adopt themselves as part of their affiliation to the TUC.
As was made clear by the Women's Committee and others during the consultation on structures and services carried out in 2005-6, participation in an event such as Congress involves more than being present during the formal sessions. Some of the most important and rewarding work takes place outside the normal hours and therefore if delegates with childcare responsibility are to play a full part in such events childcare facilities need to be available outside the core hours.
The General Council is also committed to ensuring that childcare provision, whether provided directly or indirectly, is of top quality to ensure a positive experience for children; and that childcare workers' hours, treatment and rewards meet high standards too.
However the General Council also recognises that childcare facilities in the evening, and even early in the morning cannot be provided simply by extending crèche hours. The most sensitive times of a young child's day are when they are getting ready for bed or waking up and childcare facilities provided at such times need to be done on an individual basis in a way that meets the needs of the child, the parent and the workers providing the childcare facilities.
It was on this basis that the TUC has introduced a new service for delegates attending this year's Congress, in addition to the usual crèche facilities near to the conference centre provided whilst Congress is in session. Under this arrangement the TUC office made extensive enquiries about the range of facilities that could be provided to meet delegates childcare needs outside of conference hours and informed unions about the availability of this service in all the materials sent to unions concerning Congress. It was for unions to inform their delegates of these arrangements and for the delegates themselves to make arrangements that best suited their own needs and the needs of their child(ren).
The major point of difference between the TUC and the Women's Conference concerns the cost of such out-of-hours provision. The survey of union childcare facilities conducted last year produced a very limited number of responses, but it was clear from those that were received that very few unions provided evening childcare for delegates attending their own events.
It was not the intention of the General Council, as some delegates to the Women's Conference concluded, that the TUC should only match the facilities provided by unions, but in a recognition of the importance of such service sought to give a lead by facilitating an extended service.
The General Council believes that in terms of the respective obligations and roles of the different parties, the proper balance is for the TUC itself to provide and meet the cost of crèche facilities during Congress hours. It also accepts an obligation to provide information about the widest possible range of facilities to meet the needs of delegates for evening (and even early morning) childcare. It believes that it must be for the parent to make arrangements that meet their needs and those of the child and that the union itself should play some part, both in recognising the need for such a service and seeking to raise awareness within unions, by providing appropriate financial support for this out of hours service. This is something which some, but not all unions do at present.
In terms of overall take up of childcare facilities at Congress, this remains very limited with only five children registered for the crèche this year and, to date, even fewer delegates requesting advice regarding evening arrangements via the new service. But for the reasons stated above the TUC is committed to continuing to provide and develop such a service and encouraging unions to review and improve their own services - with the guiding principles being as set out above: to provide a facility that meets the needs of the child, the delegate and the childcare worker, with the costs and responsibilities shared in such a way that the delegate is comfortable with the facilities; that the TUC makes the arrangements and meets the costs of the core crèche but for the arrangements geared specifically to the individual needs of the child and delegate out of hours appropriate financial support should be the responsibility of the union.
To take this policy forward the General Council is committed to working with the Women's Committee to maximise the involvement of trade unionists with childcare responsibilities in TUC and union events.
Stay Updated
Want to hear about our latest news and blogs?
Sign up now to get it straight to your inbox