Workers warn council of ‘excessive’ heat in Hackney’s libraries

Homerton Library had a new temperature control system installed in July. Image: Google

Library staff are urging the council to solve “extreme heat” in several buildings  and bring temperatures in line with other libraries across the borough.

Unison representatives warned that summer temperatures in the majority of Hackney’s libraries were neither “comfortable nor safe”, with temperatures busting 29.4C.

In a letter to the interim director for economy, regeneration and new homes (ERNH), Suzanne Johnson, Unison and University and College Union library stewards stressed how current air cooling devices were “insufficient” at curbing heat levels that soared to 31 degrees.

The letter was co-signed by the branch secretaries of Unite and the GMB in Hackney.

Stewards pressed the council to give Stamford Hill and Clapton libraries similar air conditioning to Homerton, which had a new heating and cooling system installed on 5 July.

This came weeks after a staff member reportedly became “seriously unwell” when temperatures hit 29.5C.

In June, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) called for a new law that would require employers to reduce temperatures above 24 degrees in the workplace if staff were uncomfortable.

Currently, there is no meaningful upper limit on maximum working temperatures by law, but some health and safety rules include keeping temperatures comfortable and providing clean and fresh air.

The 29.4C benchmark for “extreme heat” was flagged by environmental journalist Jeff Goodell in his book The Heat Will Kill You, first published in 2023.

The stewards’ letter added: “We are aware that Hackney Central has in general a good cooling and heating provision, although staff are dependent on [heating company] Pinnacle for any temperature adjustments.”

They acknowledged that while the council is “operating in difficult financial circumstances”, the borough’s Community Energy Fund could be a solution.

The fund was launched in 2023 to support public institutions and not-for-profits based in Hackney to improve the energy-efficiency of publicly-used buildings.

Cabinet member for culture, Cllr Chris Kennedy, said: “We’re aware of the concerns from library staff about the temperatures in some of our libraries over summer and we’re working hard to address the issues and make improvements to working conditions where possible.

“We have already installed air source heating and cooling at Homerton Library and will be doing the same at Stoke Newington as part of its improvement work.”

Cllr Kennedy said the council will conduct a survey at Stamford Hill Library to review the feasibility of renting a chiller for 2025, along with other long-term solutions.

He confirmed that Stamford Hill Library would be a top priority.

Warnings of extreme heat in public spaces also come in the context of the Citizen’s Climate Jury, a council initiative launched in February this year.

The group was set up by the Town Hall to explore how the council can mitigate very hot weather and protect vulnerable people as heatwaves grow more severe.

By May, the Jury had made nine recommendations to the council, including that it “prioritise incentivising companies to build heatwave-compliant new-builds and adjust existing buildings to raise environmental standards”.

Cllr Kennedy added: “We are passionate about creating a greener and healthier Hackney and we continue to be successful in securing funding to decarbonise our buildings.

“We are developing a Green Libraries Policy to align with the council’s Climate Action Plan, which includes setting out what else we will do to deal with excessive heat at our libraries.”