‘You will see me on picket lines’: Hackney MP Diane Abbott backs library staff fighting council cuts

Local MP Diane Abbott joins protest against the cuts. Photograph: Julia Gregory

Local library staff at risk of redundancy are balloting over strike action.

Hackney North and Stoke Newington MP Diane Abbott joined a recent protest on the steps of the Town Hall.

Hackney Council is consulting with 99 full- and part-time staff on cuts that could see 76 jobs go and 57 new roles created.

It is offering voluntary redundancy as part of its consultation package, which is designed to save £250,000.

The shake-up will see some higher grade posts created, with managers each taking responsibility for several libraries rather than just one.

Saturday assistants will be scrapped and the council will create apprenticeships instead.

Library staff warned Hackney’s cabinet that the changes would put them under pressure.

Unison and Unite unions are balloting their members over strike action.

Diane Abbott told protesters: “It’s important that we fight all these cuts. We may think we are going through hard times now, but it is going to get worse.”

The Labour MP credited libraries for helping her to thrive after her mother signed her up to use them as a primary school pupil.

“Without libraries I would not have had the life that I’ve had,” she explained. “I think it’s so important for young working class children and their families to have access to a library service – a fully funded library service and a fully staffed library service – and I think we have to fight these cuts.”

She told librarians and their supporters: “You will see me on picket lines. Solidarity with the library workers and you have all of my support.”

Library campaigner Alan Wylie said: “Libraries are a crucial statutory service. The council is talking about using them as warm spaces for vulnerable people because people can’t afford to put their lights on, but you need a trained workforce.”

Unison president Andrea Egan said she feared the changes coud lead to “zero-hour contracts” being offered.

The council said the changes will see staff receive more training and higher pay.

In the council chamber, Green councillor Zoë Garbett said: “There is still time to listen to library staff.”

Hackney Mayor Philip Glanville said the council is listening.

“The listening, the reflection is there,” he said.

It is not the first time libraries have faced cuts.

In the 1980s, the number of libraries was slashed from 21 to 14, and halved again in the 1990s.

Library staff staged a sit-in at what used to be the site of Hackney town centre library – now the home of Hackney Picturehouse.

Update: this article was amended at 10.15am on 25 November 2022. The consultation has not been extended, as was originally stated.