Job cuts are to help fund Stoke Newington library’s £4.4m revamp as part of Hackney Council’s library strategy, prompting possible industrial action.
The council’s plans involve cutting 76 jobs and creating 57 new roles that staff will have to reapply for. Funding the refurbishment with money saved from job cuts was not mentioned in the original plans proposed three years ago.
Hackney Unison, the trade union representing library workers, has this week entered a formal industrial dispute with Hackney council over the plans. UNISON have told The Hackney Post that they believe the Council’s claims are false and intended to justify that the proposals will have a devastating impact on the service.
The union has also received more than 2,000 signatures on a petition against the proposed job cuts. The petition demands that the council “stop these plans” and instead invest in library services using their “significant reserves”.
A statement from Hackney council said : “Reducing the roles will deliver savings but also contribute towards service development […] This includes the repairs and renovation planned for Stoke Newington library.”
Unison spokesperson Matt Paul said: “It will be impossible to deliver and sustain [the Stoke Newington library] without having sufficient staff on the ground […] it’s completely pointless if staff cuts are funding this – what’s the point of having a lovely space if it ends up eventually closing by not having the staff to run it?”
Zoë Garbett, a Green Party councillor for Dalston who has been supporting campaigners, said: “I welcome some elements of the strategy which aims bring more people to events, but these staff cuts are not safe or sustainable.
Libraries are vital and the number of people signing Unison’s petition shows the levels of concern.”
Community activist Tyrone Scott, who has been vocal in his support for the campaign, said: “The proposed cuts to Hackney Library staff is of huge concern, not just to myself but to Library staff, unions, and members of the community, with over 1,800 coming out to sign the petition. The scale of the cuts and proposed job losses are really concerning, and it is vital the staff consultation is paused whilst the new strategy is embedded.”
Cllr Chris Kennedy, cabinet member for culture, said: “We understand the crucial role libraries play in our community […] We have co-designed a new strategy and vision with a focus on addressing inequalities, supporting economic recovery, and enabling social mobility.”
Unison is staging a protest against the cuts on 23 November before they are discussed at the council meeting the next day.
