Parents across Scotland are being urged to “down tools” next week as part of the first-ever Parent Strike calling for improved paternity leave and flexible working rights. Mums, dads, children and supporters will take part in events in Edinburgh and Glasgow on Thursday, August 27, alongside similar action elsewhere across the UK.
Demands and Organisers
Campaigners are calling for flexible working to become the default and for statutory paternity leave to be increased to six weeks at a minimum of 90 per cent of pay. The action comes as the UK Government carries out a review of the parental leave system.
In Scotland, the events are being organised by Dads Rock and supported by Fathers Network Scotland, Pregnant Then Screwed Scotland, Flexible Working Scotland and Koru Kids.
Research Findings
Organisers argue that the current system makes it difficult for some parents to take time away from work after having a baby, particularly when household finances are already stretched.
Research from Fathers Network Scotland found just one in four dads (25%) surveyed had been able to take more than two weeks of paternity leave, while nearly one in five (19%) took no paternity leave at all. Some 78 per cent also said they did not have enough time on paternity leave to bond with their baby and support their partner.
Voices from Campaigners
Cathy Sexton, chief executive of Fathers Network Scotland, said: “With new dads finding the transition into fatherhood more difficult than ever, it is critical that the UK's parental leave is reformed to ensure it is affordable for parents to take, provides a substantial amount of time off, and supports equality among parents.
“Too many of Scotland's infants are being denied the best start in life because of the UK's appalling statutory paternity leave, and change is needed now.”
Lisa Holder, director of Dads Rock, said the existing provision was “completely out of touch with what modern families need”. She said: “Children thrive when dads thrive, and a massive part of that is giving families a fair start.
“The current statutory two weeks of paternity leave is a barrier to bonding, a strain on maternal mental health, and completely out of touch with what modern families need.
“The dads we support want to rock their babies to sleep, share the load at home, and support their partners. They are telling us they want and need more leave, and we are proud to stand with them on 27th August to demand the change they deserve.”
Separate polling by campaign group The Dad Shift found 60 per cent of parents said fear of financial insecurity had put them off having more children.
Carole Erskine, head of policy and campaigns in Scotland for Pregnant Then Screwed, said families were struggling financially under the existing parental leave system. She said: “Mothers tell us often that maternity pay leaves them struggling financially, while many say their partners cannot afford to take paternity leave because the pay is so poor.
“This is hugely unfair on parents and children, and makes life stressful at what should be the happiest of times.
“We hope parents in Scotland join this event to show the strength of feeling to the Westminster government.”
National Leadership and Events
The Parent Strike is being led nationally by Anna Whitehouse, founder of the Flex Appeal campaign and known online as Mother Pukka, alongside dads' campaign group The Dad Shift. Ms Whitehouse said flexible working should become “default, not a perk” and called for improvements to paternity leave to help balance responsibilities between parents.
George Gabriel, co-founder of The Dad Shift, said: “Parenting is meant to be hard, but it's not meant to be this hard. In just a few generations, the costs of raising kids have skyrocketed.
“Raising a family can't be allowed to become the preserve of the well off.”
He added: “The Government's parental leave review gives us a once-in-a-generation chance to finally sort this out, so we're encouraging everyone who cares about this issue to join us on 27th August for The Parent Strike in Edinburgh and across the UK.”
The Scottish Parent Strike events will take place outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh and at the Wellington Statue in Glasgow on August 27.
