Fed-up fathers join world's first ‘Dad Strike' demanding better UK paternity leave
Families across the UK are campaigning for better paternity leave
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DOZENS of fed-up dads yesterday joined forces outside the Scottish Parliament to demand for better paternity leave.
It was the world's first "Dad Strike", with families protesting outside Holyrood and Westminster.
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The Dad Shift paternal leave policy change in the UK
Credit: ELeanor Pugsley
The UK's statutory paternity leave is the worst in Europe.
Currently, fathers and second parents get up to two weeks off work at less than half the minimum wage - £187.18 a week.
Statutory leave is not given to self-employed fathers or those earning less than £123 a week.
The campaign group behind the strike, the Dad Shift, wants better paternity leave in the UK, arguing 'two weeks isn't enough'. It has already gotten the support of over 40 Labour MPs.
Greg Borthwick, a father of two, works for Dads Rock - a Scottish charity that provides support for dads.
He said: 'Two weeks isn't enough.
"We've known it's not been enough for so long now. It's better for dads, it's better for mums, it's better for everyone.'
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Dads Rock's Greg Borthwick and toddler at the protest
Credit: Eleanor Pugsley
Standing at his feet is his second child, a young toddler, holding a picket sign that is the same size as her.
'I made use of the Shared Parental Leave policy. I had to take out a loan to afford to do that for three months, to spend time with my kid.'
'My wife had to go back to work during that period. It took time with the kids away from her.
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'We shouldn't have to share our parental leave. We should have our own.'
The Shared Parental Leave policy allows parents to split 50 weeks of maternity leave between them.
The Dad Shift campaign wants paternity leave that is substantial, affordable and equal.
It believes both parents should have equal leave, paid at an affordable rate, with enough time for dads to support their partner and bond with their kids.
It wasn't just fathers at the picket line, mothers were holding their banners and chanting - louder than some of the dads.
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'It is mothers that pay the price"
Credit: Eleanor Pugsley
'At the end of the day, the parental leave system is abysmal,' said a representative from the Pregnant Then Screwed charity.
They added: 'It is mothers that pay the price when there isn't enough paternity leave.
'Two weeks isn't even enough time for someone to recover from a cesarean.'
Kevin Kane, CEO of Shared Parenting Scotland - which helps couples going through separation or divorce, was also on the picket line.
Parental leave is a 'common theme' on their helpline according to Mr Kane.
He said: 'Scotland is falling behind, the UK is falling behind.
'Most people want to pull together to support the child. If they aren't able to do that, they get frustrated. That's a fault of the system.
'If we can get a more equitable distribution of the load of parenting at an early stage of a child's life, then we can make progress towards shared parenting being more normalised in Scotland.'
'For mums and dads and children, I want them to have the same opportunity to look after their children. There are models for that around the world.'
In France working dads get 28 days of paid parental leave. While in Sweden, fathers are entitled to 90 days of paid time off work and spanish dads can get 16 weeks of full time leave.
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Parental leave is a 'common theme' on Scottish helpines
Credit: Eleanor Pugsley
A report published this week by the Women and Equalities Committee said paternity leave rules 'entrench outdated gender stereotypes' and were 'completely out of kilter with the cost of living'.
The cross-party group of MPs has urged the government to consider increasing paternity pay to 90% or more and leave to six weeks.
Labour previously said they will review paternity leave within their first year in office.
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