Another victory in Greenwich

Greenwich Unison members are celebrating yet another victory. Earlier this year, library workers were warned by managers of impending closures and compulsory redundancies.

The branch organised a lobby of the council, which led to a statement from management that there had been a "misunderstanding", and that no such proposals existed. Yet a recent report to the council included details of the closure of four libraries, the mobile service and the school library service. With one day's notice, around 30 library workers turned up to lobby the council.

The branch also issued a press release calling for public protests. This caused a humiliating climb down. The council first of all said that the details should not have gone out in the report - letting the public know about the closures was a mistake!

BUT more importantly, the council leader told the Unison branch secretary and Socialist Party member Onay Kasab that he had ordered the withdrawal and scrapping of the proposals.

This represents yet another victory for Greenwich Unison.

In addition to the victory over the single status agreement, the branch have, over the last month, won the following campaigns:

• Forcing the council to reverse pay cuts imposed on council plumbers, including winning an agreement to pay arrears.
• Winning a pay claim, with arrears, for Tenancy Team Leaders in the Housing Department.
• Winning a pay claim for drivers in the road sweeping section.
• Forcing the employers to financially compensate two members.

This shows what can be achieved by a fighting, campaigning leadership.