Libraries SOS Day 19/10/17 - is it enough?

My union, Unison, have announced that 19/10/17 will be a 'Save Our Services' day for public libraries. They will be asking members to post photos/videos on Twitter and Facebook and will be asking local and national decision-makers to take action and councils to commit to providing comprehensive library services.

All great stuff but with 10,000 library workers and 800+ libraries (if you count volunteer-led 'libraries') lost since 2010 is this really enough?

In my opinion we need to do much much more, we need to organise;

a national demo/march pulling together all the effected/interested unions + library users/campaigners + community activists.

a national ballot for a library workers strike or failing this then strategic and co-ordinated action in key councils cutting & closing libraries.

We need to be seen to be fighting back like our sisters and brothers in Unite and the PCS. If we don't fight we'll never win.

'Lewisham March For Libraries' 21/5/16

Solidarity with Unison members in Lewisham Libraries who will be on strike this coming Saturday (21/5/16) in defence of the library service. They will be joining other library supporters on a march;

LEWISHAM MARCH FOR LIBRARIES

Saturday 21 May

Assemble 12 midday
Limes Grove - next to Lewisham Library
199 - 201 Lewisham High St, London SE13 6LG

March to Town Hall for rally with speakers including :

Carnegie Library occupier from Lambeth
Alan Wylie - Libraries campaigner
Heather Wakefield - Unison
Save Lewisham Libraries campaigners
More speakers TBC

Please show solidarity and send messages of support to savelewishamlibraries@gmail.com , join them on the march if you can and sign the petition;

https://www.change.org/p/lewisham-council-save-lewisham-libraries

http://savelewishamlibraries.blogspot.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/SaveLewishamLibraries/

Solidarity to Lambeth, Greenwich and Bromley Library Workers!

This week library workers in Lambeth (Unison), Greenwich (Unite) and Bromley (Unite) have all taken strike action against cuts, privatisation and paid/trained staff being replaced by volunteers.

On Monday Lambeth Unison was successful in bringing out it's members and closing all libraries in the borough. This is part of a long running dispute over cuts to the service and proposals to turn 3 libraries into "bookish gyms" run by Greenwich Leisure Ltd (GLL)




Greenwich library workers on 4 day strike to oppose the closure of mobile library service (run by GLL)

Bromley and Greenwich library staff on strike amid potential cuts

http://m.newsshopper.co.uk/news/14264237.Bromley_and_Greenwich_library_staff_on_strike_amid_potential_cuts/

Bromley & Greenwich library strikes

10 February 2016

Libaries in Bromley were closed as a result of Unite's members industrial action and Unite is also mobilising its members in Greenwich. There was a great turnout of striking members outside of Bromley South station, which was followed with a rally and march along the high street.

- See more at: http://www.unitetheunion.org/how-we-help/listofregions/londonandeastern/londoneasternnews/bromley--greenwich-library-strikes/#sthash.NbzpsTUt.dpuf 

Solidarity to Lambeth Library Workers!

On Wednesday 18/11/15 after much provocation, and in defence of a crucial statutory public service and their jobs, public library workers (mostly or all Unison members) in Lambeth walked out. All ten libraries in the borough were closed.
They were supported in their action by the Save Lambeth Libraries campaign and by the many Friends groups in the borough.



I salute them and the library workers in Barnet, Bromley, Greenwich and everywhere else in London who have taken action. I also salute the users, community activists etc who have protested alongside them.

London's library services are being torn apart, in the last few years we've witnessed the culling of 1000+ paid/trained staff, many libraries closed, libraries privatised and opening hrs and budgets slashed. We desperately need a coordinated and united fight back. Let's hope that Wednesdays action is a spark.

For more information see;

https://socialistworker.co.uk/art/41736/Lambeth+libraries+workers+stage+unofficial+walkout+in+protest+at+council+cuts 

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/lambeth-library-workers-walk-out-in-protest-over-gym-plans-a3117441.html

http://www.brixtonblog.com/34123-2/34123

and for the Save Lambeth Libraries petition and FB page see;

https://www.change.org/p/london-borough-of-lambeth-save-lambeth-libraries

https://www.facebook.com/lambethmanifestoforlibraries 

'Read It and Weep'; UNISON inquiry into Scotland’s libraries

"Fine words and ideals no substitute for investment: UNISON inquiry into Scotland’s libraries

UNISON, the trade union for Scotland’s library staff, has published a report 'Read It and Weep', which outlines the experience of those working in Scotland’s libraries. It raises the concerns and difficulties of staff who are simultaneously being expected to expand services while being in the front line of cuts.

The report is based on qualitative research from UNISON members working across Scotland’s libraries. The frustration on the part of staff is clear. They are well aware that the services they provide are not as good as they could be and they highlight the impacts that cuts are making. Library services have been undergoing massive change in recent years yet staff numbers have been going down, buildings are closing and opening hours reduced

Gray Allan, UNISON Falkirk council branch spokesperson (and a librarian), said “There is no shortage of people willing to say libraries are a good thing. But what our libraries need isn’t just fine words and ideals but proper financing and investment. The Scottish Government has endorsed a national strategy for public libraries that talks of libraries being part of a shared civic ambition.

"There isn’t much point in giving every child in Scotland a library card if their local library is being closed or its hours have reduced so much it isn’t accessible.

" Staff are keen to see their service move forward but that isn’t happening.”

For the full report click here;
http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/publicworks/ReadItandWeep_LibrariesStaffSurvey_Sep2015.pdf

Public meeting in defence of libraries and other public services in Barnet.

"What is happening to our Council services & what can we do about it?"


Date: 26 November 2014

Time: 6.30 pm

Venue: Greek Cypriot Centre Britannia

Road, North Finchley, N12 9RU


Speakers:


Professor Dexter Whitfield


Dexter is Director of European Services Strategy Unit and Adjunct Associate Professor, Australian Workplace Innovation and Social Research Centre, University of Adelaide.


Alan Wylie


Alan is Library worker, Library Campaigner (Stop the Privatisation of Public Libraries, Voices for the Library & Speak up for Libraries) and a UNISON member.


UNISON Your Choice Barnet care worker

Unite speaker on Libraries campaign in London


More speakers to follow.

Barnet UNISON response to outsourcing Library proposal

 

Barnet Libraries are under attack again, below is Barnet Unison's response to the onslaught;

 

"Recommendations

1. Barnet UNISON strongly recommends that in-house provision is included in each option.

2. It is essential that a comprehensive risk register is compiled immediately and forms part of the public and staff consultation so that the risks can be fully understood in assessing the options.

3. Assurances are required to both the public and staff that the wider role of volunteers is only a short-term measure.

4. A full equality impact assessment is undertaken to identify the effect of the Library options and the operational proposals"

http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/?q=node/1436

 

For full report see;

 

http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/sites/default/files/The%20Future%20of%20Barnet%20Libraries%20.pdf

Statement from Lambeth Unison.

Lambeth Libraries Unison members have been in dispute over redundancies since September 2013 (they have 90%+ unison membership and got a 100% yes vote for strike action on an indicative ballot) and recently finally ‘suspended’ their action passing the following motion:

‘UNISON members recognise that significant progress has been made in management's proposals for the Libraries and Archives Service, during the consultation period. In particular:

• Retention of more capacity in the courier service
• Retention of greater professional staffing, by protecting Librarian posts
• Changes in Job Descriptions
• No compulsory redundancies of UNISON members

We agree this provides a basis for the suspension of the current dispute.

Libraries in Lambeth have been underfunded for many years and we will continue to campaign and fight for a better library service for the borough. As part of this, we will support and campaign for the Lambeth Manifesto for Libraries calling on those standing in the 2014 Council Elections to make four commitments.

• A commitment to increase book stock to at least the average amount of books of other London authorities- Lambeth Libraries have only 50% of the average London borough book stock

• A commitment to increase staffing to at least the average amount of staff of other London authorities - Lambeth Libraries are proposing to reduce the staffing levels to the lowest in London

• A commitment to increase public IT access to at least the average amount of other London authorities -Lambeth Libraries have only 50% of the average London borough public IT provision

• A commitment to keep all nine public libraries open with no cuts to opening hours’

 

They have also launched the ‘Lambeth Manifesto for Libraries’ https://www.facebook.com/lambethmanifestoforlibraries?ref=hl

see also http://www.voicesforthelibrary.org.uk/2013/11/lambeth-campaigners-adopt-the-manifesto-for-libraries/

Unison Research into Public Library Cuts

Today I attended, along with Unison Stewards/Reps and campaigners from all over the UK, the launch of a research report into Public Library cuts conducted by Steve Davies, University of Cardiff, and Unison. Unfortunately i can't go into detail about what the report says as it is still in draft form and has been embargoed untill June 13 but it definitely doesn't paint the rosy picture as spun by Vaizey and Co.

The seminar took place on the top floor of the new Unison HQ, which has panoramic views of London and looks like a cross between the UN Security Council and the secret pad of a Bond villain!

Dave Prentis kicked off proceedings with a general message of support for libraries and then Steve Davies spoke about the research in detail. Wanda Wyporska, an author, then gave a speech about her life-long passion with libraries, research and reading and lastly Paul Gilroy, the Branch Secretary of the Newcastle Branch gave a detailed account of the campaign against the cuts in his city. As you may know Newcastle Libraries are facing huge cuts with 12 libraries up for the chop and 25.5 FTE library staff facing redundancy, it was all very depressing but heartening to hear of the fightback!

After the morning session the discussion was opened up and Heather took comments and questions from the floor. Obviously i was the first one with my hand up and rattled on about the neo-liberal agenda, 'customers' or 'users/members', PFI, hollowing out, the truth behind the headlines "we're not closing libraries" BLAH! BLAH! BLAH! ;-)

Other delegates spoke about the situations in their own authorities, with tales of low morale, short staffing, the erosion of terms and conditions, the commercialisation of the service, co-location, hubs, shared services, increased stress, lack of leadership/vision, poor management, trusts, privatisation and volunteers replacing paid staff. But also there was lots of talk about promoting the great things that libraries do and working with the community to save them.

It was a useful day and the research when it is finished will be a very valuable piece of evidence as to the crimes being currently committed but there needs to be more of a national campaign, don't get me wrong Speak up for Libraries is a worthwhile initiative but it needs more resources put into it, which unfortunately Unison doesn't appear to have.

So what's the way forward? Well in my opinion it's for branches too make links with local anti-cuts and campaign groups and of course local communities and service users to build coalitions of resistance to fight closures and 'hollowing out'.

The State of London's Libraries

Today i met with fellow London Libraries Unison Stewards, who are doing a brilliant job trying to defend their members and the service, to discuss the current state of affairs and although i can't go into detail about what was discussed what I can say is that we are in deep deep shit!

The service in the capital is being hollowed out and ripped apart so if ACE try to cloud your vision with talk of £6m arts partnerships, or the SCL's 'universal offers' give you optimism, or god forbid you are taken in by Vaizey's rosy eyed view then tell them from me it is far too little far too late and if they deny this then they are talking complete and utter nonsense .

And yes i do have an alternative plan; strike, protest and occupy.