Category: Local

Branch campaigns

Message of Solidarity from Sian Berry

Libraries, Local, Solidarity, Trades Dispute

‘We send our solidarity from Camden to striking library workers in Barnet. We’re proud to see public servants standing up for the principle of public services run by the public for the common good. All councils face a funding squeeze but Barnet Council appears to believe the solution is handing over as many of its functions as possible to the private sector, which only brings lower standards for the community, diminished services and worse conditions for staff too, and sees public money being used to line private pockets. All our best wishes are with your action this week.’

Sian

Member of the London Assembly
for the Green Party

 

Solidarity Message to the Barnet Strikers From John McDonnell

Local, News, Trades Dispute, UNISON Campaign

“I want to pay tribute and send solidarity greetings to Barnet UNISON Library workers who are taking three days strike action starting Monday 13 June. They have been fighting an inspirational work place and community campaign with the Save Barnet Libraries campaign. I would like to thank them for their sterling efforts to expose and prevent the proposed widespread decimation of their Library service which will see half the workforce dumped onto the dole queue. Barnet UNISON has been a fine example of how trade unions and their community can work together in fighting austerity policies which are destroying local public services up and down the country, they have my 100% support.” John McDonnell Shadow Chancellor

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Solidarity message from Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell

Local, UNISON Campaign

Solidarity message from Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell“I want to send a message of solidarity and support to Barnet UNISON members, and the many community campaigns who have been fighting Barnet Council as it carries out its relentless ideological war against public services,the disabled and their own staff. I cant be with you with you on your protest on Tuesday 24 May, keep fighting your all are an inspiration” John McDonnell MP Shadow Chancellor

Unstaffed Libraries – Unsafe and Unproven

Local

Barnet UNISON Press Release: 31 March 2016 

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Unstaffed Libraries – Unsafe and Unproven

 Barnet Council has used the examples of Denmark, Leeds and Peterborough to support their plan to replace Library workers with unstaffed libraries (Open+). Barnet UNISON exposed how the Danish use of unstaffed library opening differed from the Barnet plan. » Read more

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: A Warning for Our Libraries

Local

Barnet Libraries are suffering major problems with IT. This has meant that the Open+ (unstaffed opening) pilot at Edgware Library has been suspended, inconveniencing the few people who use that site during the additional opening hours, but there are serious implications for the future operation of our libraries

If a similar failure occurs after the Council’s Library proposal is implemented, it will cause an almost complete shutdown of the Library Service. » Read more

Open Plus/Staff less Libraries – Danish Union response

Local

Statement from Tine Jorgensen, Chair of the Danish Union of Librarians

“Libraries play a crucial role in a modern, democratic society as cultural, social and educational institutions. Libraries offer access to information, literature (fiction and non-fiction) and digital resources and engaging the population in active citizenship regardless of social and economic differences.

Libraries support learning activities in terms of reading, information seeking and validation of search results. Studies show that children who are keen readers in their spare time read considerably better than those who do not show interest in reading.  Librarians support this with their knowledge of books and reading levels.

Libraries also play a role in terms of digital resources. When the Danish Business Authority introduced the digital mailbox the libraries and library staff supported the digital strategy by offering assistance and learning activities for the citizens

 

Therefore self-serviced or unstaffed libraries are only to be seen as an enhancement of the opening hours, not as a replacement for the important tasks that librarians, information professionals and other library workers perform every day.”

MORE BREAKING NEWS: Barnet UNISON AGM has been outsourced!

Local

John Burgess UNISON Branch Secretary said:

“Yes I know it is Barnet, and yes we are currently consulting on our thirteenth TUPE transfer in three years but this is unbelievable, is nothing sacred, what will be next, Street Scene services? But our branch doesn’t let outsourcing stop us organising so for the first time in our history that we will be holding our Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 2 March from 4 pm at the St John the Apostle Church Hall, Friern Barnet Lane, Whetstone, (opposite the Three Horseshoes Pub).

All Barnet UNISON members are welcome it is going to be cracking meeting.”

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