Advocacy at a national level remains a sensitive point.

The careworkers felt their fight should be taken up in parliament, but quickly lost faith in the party they hoped would do that on their behalf.

Barnet Labour has turned out in comparative force at careworkers' strikes, but has work to do to convince careworkers that its sympathies persist after rallies.

'Labour has been getting rid of the childcare centres and the nurseries... they're supposed to be saving money with all of these cuts. Well, we have never seen a penny of it.' Fremantle careworker Joyce Owusu-Ansah, 2008.

Owusu-Ansah had worked in Barnet carehomes for 20 years. She has two children aged nine and 11.

'There have been a lot of sleepless nights [because of the dispute]. My children find it stressful - sometimes, you scream at them for no reason. They ask - why do you have to go to work all the time? I pay £18 for them for after school club. That's for two days.'

Others also feel let down by Labour.

'They're taking our bread and butter. The thing is - it is Labour, the ten pence in the pound... you tell them that we won't be supporting them in the next election. Nobody is voting for them next time. We have been treated very badly.' Fremantle careworker Maria Woods, 2008.

'They are supposed to be supporting the workers - they are supposed to be working for the lower class.' Jackie Mitchell, 2008.

Barnet council is Conservative.