Camden UNISON is holding a public meeting entitled 'The Future of Camden Libraries' It will be on Wednesday 15th April 1998 at Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, London, WC1(nearest tube Holborn).
Confirmed guest speakers include Doris Lessing, John Rety, and Guy Danes (library association). It is expected that more names will be added before the night. There have also been many messages of support sent which will be displayed at the meeting. Such correspondence has been received from; Jon Snow, Melvyn Bragg, Pay Weldon, Roger Lloyd Pack, Margaret Forster and Margaret Drabble amongst others. Speakers from the floor will also be welcome.
Camden Library workers have been on all out indefinite strike since 26th February 1998. The library management have refused to negotiate since 16th March. The dispute is over a staffing review which has led to a new staffing structure being imposed on the library staff Management say it will lead to a more 'professional service'. However, the library staff say that in this case 'professional' simply means more mangers. Under the structure the number of mangers will rise by 30% whilst front-line library assistant posts will be cut by 38%. There will also be downgradings for 20% of workers which will mean a pay cut in the long term. Amongst those being down graded are the schools library service (SLS). They provide books and other media to all the primary and special schools and children centres in the Borough of Camden. The present strike means that none of these educational establishments will receive their new topic boxes in time for the summer term. The service provided by the SLS has been praised by both the council and the service users. Indeed, they were recently recommended for a Chartermark.
These staffing cuts are being implemented independently of a strategic review currently being floated. This was commissioned by the council from KPMG at a cost of £34,000. All of the options they proposed will mean library closures.
The general public have been outraged by both of these reviews. A petition of over 7,000 names has already been handed in to the Leisure and Community services Committee with more being collected all the time. Local councillors from all parties voted for both the Staffing and Strategic Reviews. The handling of the current dispute and the KPMG proposals have caused a split in the local Labour council. Many councillors fear that they will lose votes andlor seats at the local elections on May 7th.
The Public Meeting will be open to discussions on both the library staffing dispute and the proposed library closures.
Contact names: Jan North, Paul Jameson, Helen Johnson or David Eggmore
Camden UNISON, 59 Phoenix Court, Brill Place, London, NWI I ES
Telephone: 0171-911-1633 (Direct Line) 0171-278-4444 Ext. 4012
David Eggmore: Home - 0171 359 1983 Work - 0171 911 1633
Liz Leicester: Work - 0171 911 1686