Following the success of our podcast series Childcare Voices, On the Record again convened a community of parents, activists and childcare workers, this time to record the history of the 1984 Islington Nursery Strike. I worked with the group to edit and sound design the series. 

On Monday 16 April 1984 155 nursery workers employed by Islington Council began an indefinite strike. Their industrial action was sparked by understaffing in the nurseries, which meant there was often an unsafe ratio of children to staff. The strike lasted fifteen weeks, during which time all twelve council-run Children’s Day Centres were closed. The strikers returned to work on 30 July 1984, having won real improvements in the Children’s Day Centres.

I supported a group of present-day nursery workers, parents, carers and campaigners convened by On the Record to produce these podcasts, which tell the story of how the nursery workers fought for better conditions for both themselves and the children in their care.