Barnet Library Strikers True Stories: “Janet’s story”
British Library, Kings Cross.
March to protest about cuts to libraries, museums and the arts.
Barnet Unison were on the march along with striking Barnet library staff.
05/11/16 BP
AMS
I am a Library Customer Service Assistant in Barnet Libraries, and before I that was a Library and Information Officer and before that a Library Assistant. I have worked for Barnet for 35 years and hoped to retire in three years’ time. I know I will get redundancy money if I lose my job but it will not be able to cover my expenses for long. Personal circumstance meant that I had to give up my home and now I rent. Without a regular income I am not sure I will be able to cover my living expenses. I don’t splash out on a lot of luxuries but after working all my life I think I deserve more than just to exist. I have spent my working life helping people in libraries. I have read stories to toddlers and then helped them with their homework when they got older. One of the children I used to do this for came to work in Libraries with me a few years ago, before she got a job as a librarian in another part of London. I know I have to retire sometime but I don’t want to be forced into giving up work. It should be my decision. It is bad enough that the Council want to hand our libraries over to private companies, but charities and residents groups should know better.
* Identities have been changed to protect the striker