Library staff to go on strike over job cuts: four dates announced

Brian Debus, Hackney Unison chair at library protest. Photograph: Julia Gregory. Free for use by partners of BBC news wire service

Library staff have announced four strike dates as they call on Hackney politicians to start a new chapter and stop a proposed jobs shake-up.

Unison members have voted for strike action and will be out on Tuesday 10 January and Thursday 12 January.

They will also strike on Monday 16 January and Friday 20 January in a dispute with the town hall over job losses.

Librarians plan to be on the picket lines at Dalston CLR James Library, Dalston Lane and Hackney Central, Mare Street.

Town hall bosses are planning a shake-up of jobs – they could cut 76 roles and create 57 new ones.

The move would see an overall change from 79.6 jobs to 60.5.  The council says it means staff will get jobs at higher grades and will get more training.

Plans include scrapping duty managers for each library, with three area managers instead and weekend working for some new roles

Overall town hall bosses are consulting with 99 full- and part-time library staff over the changes.

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

Brian Debus, Hackney Unison chair, said the union “believes the restructure proposal is not fit for purpose and not sustainable for the future development of the library service.”

He said: “To lose primarily one third of all frontline staff, when the current service is struggling to deliver on all its current demands, and to rely even more on relief staff to keep the lights on will lead to a decrease in service to the public users of libraries.”

He pointed out that staff “do not see how this system will work with the loss of 20 full time equivalent posts from the frontline”.

The union said the number who have applied for voluntary redundancy has tripled over the last month from 14 to 44.

“We believe one of the main factors in this increase is a realisation by more and more staff that the current proposal is unworkable and untenable, and therefore they have chosen to leave.”

Mr Debus said it could see an “over reliance on relief staff to keep the doors open.”

He added: “This is unfair to low paid relief staff, the permanent staff and in particular the public using the library service.”

Unison also warned the council they will have pickets at any library “that management attempts to open”.

They will also take their protest to the steps of Hackney Town Hall again at 12.30pm on Tuesday 10 January.

Hackney North and Stoke Newington MP Diane Abbott has given the library staff her support.

She told a town hall protest in November: “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.”

The result of a Unite members ballot is due next week (9 January).

The council has invited the unions to a meeting on Friday (6 January) ahead of next week’s strike action.

Monday also sees the library strategy come under the spotlight at  a meeting of the council’s skills, economy and growth scrutiny commission.

Councillor Chris Kennedy, the cabinet member for culture, health, adult social care, voluntary sector said: “The decision to take industrial action is disappointing, however we understand that a number of staff are concerned about the proposals, and those staff of course have a right to express those concerns.

He added: “In reality, less than a third of the libraries’ workforce has voted for strike action, but their decision will affect the whole workforce. The council’s priority during the industrial action is the wellbeing of all library staff as the recruitment process takes place. We aim to minimise the impact on staff wellbeing during the process, which for many will result in a better-paid frontline role, or a promotion into a management or a specialist role.”

The council declined to confirm how many staff have requested voluntary redundancy.

Cllr Kennedy said: “We are still supporting staff with applications and considerations of redundancy and until the process is complete it is too soon and inappropriate to provide further details.

“Throughout this process there has been a commitment to keep any compulsory redundancy to a minimum, and there will be no change to minimum staff levels or a reduction of safety across the sites.”

The council’s seven main libraries, have been designated as “warm spaces” this winter to give people somewhere they can spend time without spending money or putting on their heating.

The council said “Hackney’s libraries will continue to provide warm spaces as they are needed alongside many other facilities for the community.”