Camden Council's management have broken off local negotiations with UNISON, the trade union representing 170 library staff who are on official strike. The management action comes despite a firm recommendation from London's Local Government negotiating body that the dispute which led to the strike should be settled by local talks.
The strike arose from management plans to make redundancies, impose job cuts and change working patterns of staff in advance of implementation of the "Strategic Review" of Library Services later this year. Continuous strike action by UNISON members (who constitute the overwhelming majority of library staff) began on 26th February. The strike remains solid with only one out of thirteen libraries being opened by management.
Last week the Joint Secretaries of the Greater London provincial Council - the negotiating body for local authorities and their employees at London level - talked to both sides in an attempt to conciliate on the dispute. The Joint Secretaries recommended that the issues in dispute "should be the subject of immediate discussion between the parties .... we believe that sufficient grounds exist for a settlement to be achieved."
However, after just two meetings management issued an ultimatum. They were prepared to otter some undertakings on the redundancy issue but only if there was an immediate return to work.
The meeting of the strikers on 13th March voted overwhelmingly (99 votes to 3) against an immediate return to work but in favour of continuing negotiations, as recommended by the Greater London Provincial Council Joint Secretaries, to see if further progress towards a settlement can be made. Management have now rejected this offer and have even withdrawn the improvements they had put forward.
"The management action is a kick in the teeth not only to the Library staff but also to the Joint Secretaries," stated David Eggmore, Associate Branch Secretary of Camden UNISON. "Obviously we are disappointed at the Council's stance particularly as it appeared that some progress was being made. We believe that the public and increasing numbers of Councillors now realise what is at stake in this dispute. UNISON is not asking for higher pay, better condition or more jobs - though all would be justified if the Council were genuine in its claim to want an improved library service. We are simply seeking to ensure that improvements to the service are not made at the expense of the jobs, pay or conditions of the loyal staff who run Camden's libraries. With goodwill on the part of management this dispute could be settled in a day."
There is now likely to be a further attempt to mediate by the GLPC Joint Secretaries.
Enquiries:
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
Jan North (UNISON Office): 0171 911 1633