Bromley library strikes

Bromley Central Library workers will strike over plans by their employer Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL) to stage late-night openings with less staff, Unite said today (May 26).

The 17 employees, members of Unite, voted unanimously in favour of strike action over a proposed change to working hours so that staff, instead of working one late night every two weeks, will work four late nights every two weeks.

Part-time staff, who currently do not work late nights, will now be required to work one late night per week.

Unite said that the late nights plan, which only involves employees at Bromley Central Library, comes after a reduction in staffing – so it will mean less workers to cover longer opening hours.

Beginning on June 14, Bromley Central Library workers will strike every day from 6pm.

The latest dispute follows the eight-month strike by 50 GLL library staff working in the borough’s 14 libraries, over such issues as pay progression and employee restructuring, that ended in January 2020.

Unite regional officer Onay Kasab said, “GLL’s plan to open Bromley Central Library for longer with less staff is simply not feasible. The workers know it, which is why every single one of our members voted for strike action.

“It is hard to see why GLL seems incapable of acknowledging the facts: the library can only run extended hours with the correct staffing levels in place,” he added.

“Strike action can be avoided but only if GLL enters into meaningful discussions with Unite to produce a late-night working plan that our members can accept.”

By Ryan Fletcher