Privatisation fight

Unite and the local Bromley community stood firm in solidarity against cuts to council services and privatisation at a packed demo on Saturday (July 23), which was also attended by Unite general secretary Len McCluskey.

Hundreds attended in an effort to save cherished services such as libraries from the juggernaut of privatisation – Unite even persuaded police to allow demonstrators to march on the streets.

“A large number of residents came out on the day, and we had tons of support from passers-by as well – it was a huge success,” explained Unite regional officer Onay Kasab.

Unite is now ramping up its campaign against the Tory-controlled council, which, Kasab explained, endeavours to become a “commissioning council.”

“The council plans to dramatically reduce the council workforce from 3,000 to only 300 and aims to contract out virtually everything – this will turn the council from a provider of services to a mere manager of contracts.”

Libraries, Kasab noted, are under the most immediate threat.

“The council plans to run some libraries on a completely voluntary basis, while contracting the rest to private companies,” he explained.

“Let’s be clear that they’re not talking about simply having a few volunteers here and there – entire libraries will be staffed with only untrained and unqualified staff. This will be disastrous for the service.”

Another parallel issue is alleged victimisation and bullying of Unite rep and library worker Kath Smith after all her trade union facility had been removed by the council, among other punitive measures.

Coordinated effort

Kasab explained that Unite’s Bromley campaign is a coordinated effort that will include both industrial action as well as Unite working together with community organisations such as Backing Bromley to maintain public pressure.

“The local authority is now discussing which private companies will be taking over some of the services, but they aren’t making that information public”, he noted.

“As soon as we do find out which companies will be running the service, we also plan to put pressure on those companies,too.”

Bromley council claims that their privatisation plans are to provide “the best value for money” but Kasab challenged this notion.

“Anybody who thinks a service that was once professionally staffed is improved after it has been replaced by unqualified volunteers is living in cloud cuckoo land,” he said. “You cannot dictate the hours of volunteers and they’re accountable to no one.”

“Let us also be clear that there is plenty of money available to continue running these services properly,” Kasab added.

Bromley council has ÂŁ300m in reserves and has a surplus of ÂŁ12m each year.

“But instead of serving the people they’re supposed to represent, they spend money on buying property – on property speculation essentially,” Kasab explained.

Len McCluskey argued that the council was “failing the people of Bromley.”

‘Whatever it takes’

“I am proud that Unite is opposing the cuts,” he said.

“In Bromley alone, we have members who have taken over 30 days of strike action in defence of the services they provide. Just this week Unite members working in the libraries of Bromley stood up and fought back because they oppose plans to sack staff and cut library services.”

Len McCluskey has put the council leader Stephen Carr on notice that the union will continue in its support of Kath Smith.

“Bullying and victimising a grandmother, whose only crime has been to expose the threat to public services in her own community, is nothing short of a disgrace,” he said. “Unite will stand with Kath – whatever it takes.

“Unite is proud to be supporting ‘Backing Bromley’ a new community group that has grown to fight Bromley council,”McCluskey added. “Over 1,200 residents have raised placards in their gardens to show their support”.

He highlighted that hundreds of calls have been made to the ‘hotline’ as residents clamour to report the failings of their own council.

“Backing Bromley and Unite are finalising a dossier of these failings which will be released in October,” McCluskey noted.

“Our message is clear – Unite will not be silenced, the people of Bromley will not be silenced.”