Half-term library chaos

Libraries in Greenwich face disruption and closures this week as staff strike for two days.

Staff have been unhappy with the management since the library was taken over by social enterprise Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL) in 2012.

GLL has said that it will not replicate any pay rises that are awarded to local government workers.

“The strikes this week will impact on parents wishing to take their children to local libraries. Half-term is always a time when libraries are particularly busy,” said Onay Kasab, Unite regional officer.

The strikes will take place on Thursday October 30 and Friday October 31. They follow a solid strike on October 14 when 86 senior library assistants and library assistants walked out.

“We have warned GLL that there would be more industrial action, unless it gets around the negotiating table,” added Onay.

Since GLL took over in 2012 its record has been ‘disastrous’, with one library already closed and the mobile service under constant threat.

“During the last strike day, Unite members were subjected to disgusting abuse and threats from two workmen hired by the council to cross picket lines, open libraries and basically, try unsuccessfully to break the strike,” said Onay Kasab.

Only one of the borough’s 12 libraries was able to open on October 14. The union estimates 12 staff have been lost through job cuts so far under GLL.