United Voice News
Families and workers fight to save their childcare centre
In the small Tasmanian town of Margate families and workers have formed a partnership to save their childcare centre. This follows last week's announcement by the ABC2 Receiver that the centre had no future and would close in June.
"This centre is vital to Margate. It's the only childcare centre in town so the impact of a closure would spread much further than the 100 families and 15 workers at the centre," says David O'Byrne, Tasmanian Branch Secretary of LHMU – The childcare union. "That's why the community sprung into action as soon as we learned the centre was on the hit list."
Hundreds of members of this small but growing community have already signed the petition to save the centre and on Tuesday there will be a public meeting to demonstrate to potential investors that the centre is a viable - families and workers know there is a continuing role and need for the centre.
Commenting on the groundswell of community support for the centre David O'Byrne says "The fact that the Margate community sprung to the defence of this centre shows that when it comes to childcare you can't divorce children, their families and workers. Both have a commitment to quality care and education and both understand this is totally dependent on workers with well-paid, secure jobs."
Pic: Margate mother Emma Griffin with daughter Hannah and David O'Byrne, LHMU Tasmanian Branch Secretary
