Rally for more staff in Thuringian daycare centres in front of the state parliament in Erfurt

On 9 September, a rally was held in front of the state parliament in Erfurt as part of a petition hearing. This action was primarily organised by members of the Unpaid / Paid Care Work Working Group of the Jena Women's Strike as well as other motivated and committed people from and around Jena. Last summer, a working group drew up the petition for "More staff and financial resources in Thuringian daycare centres". The aim of the petition was and is to fundamentally improve the conditions in daycare centres. The petition combines the concerns and interests of parents and teachers, who are often at odds with each other in daycare centres due to the work and care situation. At the beginning of the hearing, the intolerable situation in daycare centres was made clear in a performance: staff trapped in a cage made of laundry racks, children crying louder and louder the more children the teacher has to look after, excessive demands. The reactions of the audience varied, but the problems and concerns of the petitioners became clear. This was followed by a presentation of the petition, the women's strike and speeches from three different perspectives. Activists, parents and teachers spoke together about their experiences with a lack of staff and funding. The hearing was followed by a discussion round in which the parties and the MPs present presented and clarified their programmes and concerns, but also asked the petitioners about their wishes and concrete ideas. During the hearing in the plenary hall, a rally / occupation took place in front of the hall. This was organised by other people from the working group and supporters and served to network in front of the state parliament, to make the petition's concerns visible and to support the petitioners. We took space for care and care work issues: There was a washing line with quotes from people who had co-signed the petition, banners, music, coffee and biscuits as well as information material from the women*s strike. When the hearing began, we broadcast the livestream of the state parliament outside to make the events inside accessible to participants in the rally and passers-by.