Chris Newby, Hackney Socialist Party
Striking Hackney library workers in Unison were again in a determined mood as they took part in their third day of strike action in their dispute with Hackney’s Labour council.
On 16 January, library management attempted to open three libraries. In the Central library, despite five managers going in, management could not get any library worker to cross the picket line. As a result, the library was not able to be opened, in spite of the fact that the minimum staffing level is three.
This really highlights who’s important to running the library – and it’s clearly not the managers!
There will be one more day of strike action on Friday 20 January, with further strike days being discussed. Library workers in Unite the Union will be striking in the week beginning 30 January.
The strikers are angry that the proposed huge job cuts are coming from a Labour council, with some of them calling for the setting up of a new party for the working class.
