Camden Libraries have been closed due to industrial action since Thursday 26th February. The strike is solid and the management have been able to open only one library out of thirteen and that has reduced hours. On Thursday 12th March a mass picket of St. Pancras library, Kings Crass has been organised. Later, there will be a lobby of a meeting of the Leisure & Community Service committee at 6pm, at Camden Town Hall, Judd Street. The last lobby, on Wednesday 4th March, attracted up to 100 strikers and their supporters They provided a lively spectacle which stopped traffic with a mock funeral and lone piper.
The library workers are all members of 'UNISON' Britain's largest trade Union. They are striking over a staffing review which will have far reaching implications for the library service in Camden.
These include:
The strikers are NOT asking for any improvements in their pay or conditions, they are simply asking that these are not allowed to deteriorate any further
The new structure has been criticised at all levels of the service. Senior managers have presented their own alternative proposals which would go a long way to resolving the dispute however, the upper echelons have yet to act.
This assault on staff and services is independent of a further strategic review of Camden libraries. This has been conducted by K.P.M.G. the management consultancy group. Camden Couxcil paid £34, 000 for this report. All the options proposed by K.P.M.G. involve the closure of libraries, a further option to retain the status quo has since been added. These options will be discussed at the Leisure & Community Service Committee Meeting on Thursday 12th March.
These proposals are due to be implemented within two years which begs the question;
Why are Camden Council going ahead with this staffing review when something as basic as the number of libraries is currently in flux?
This has not been brought on by a financial crisis, indeed Camden Councillors recently voted themselves a 600% pay rise. The brief for the current review stated that financial savings were NOT an issue. The proposals by management not only provide savings (which have now been ear-marked for a new computer system) but will result in such a drastic decrease in the number of front-line staff that the current service will no longer be viable.
Camden Library workers do not want to be on strike. The management have constantly criticised the Union for 'refusing to compromise'. However, as the workers are not asking for any improvements they have no concessions left to offer. As a result they are as committed to this strike as they are to the library service because if they lose Camden Library service WILL NEVER RECOVER.
Camden UNISON
59 Phoenix Court, Brill Place, London NW1 1ES
Telephone: 0171-9111-633(Direct Line) 0171-278-4444 Ext 4012
Fax 0171 387 1599