‘Clear message’

Bromley library workers, who are in the sixth month of strike action against their controversial employer social enterprise leisure services’ giant Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL), have unanimously renewed their strike mandate.

The 50 library staff, who started their strike on June 6, have now voted by 100 per cent to continue the strike action from Monday,  November 25.

Talks are due tomorrow (November 13) between Unite, which represents the library staff, and GLL bosses in a bid to resolve one of the longest employment disputes of modern times.

The strike is over staffing and other issues specifically relating to GLL’s stewardship of Bromley’s 14 libraries.

“Our members, who have shown great courage and resolution over many months, have once again sent a very clear message to GLL by voting 100 per cent to support the campaign to defend jobs and the library service,” said Unite regional officer Onay Kasab.

“We will meet with GLL management tomorrow (Wednesday) in what will be the most important negotiations so far.

“We will be entering these talks in the spirit of open and constructive negotiation,” Kasab added. “This is now one of the longest running industrial disputes of recent times and tomorrow presents a real opportunity to work towards an agreement. We will play our part and invite GLL to do the same.

“Our members have renewed their mandate for strike action from November 25 which will mean a continuous, indefinite strike into the new year – we wish to avoid this by reaching a fair settlement this week for our members and the Bromley public who are such avid users of the library service.”