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From The Socialist newspaper, 24 January 2018
Ballots against Bromley privatisers
Bromley library workers and supporters on strike against privatisation, 1.4.17, photo Socialist Party (Click to enlarge)
Controversial outsourcing Bromley council faces strike action by workers at two of its contractors that could hit libraries and care services.
The ballots for strike action are by 36 workers at 14 libraries employed by Greenwich Leisure Ltd (GLL) and 20 care workers working for Certitude Support.
The ballots come as the whole question of the outsourcing of public services is being put under the microscope, following the Carillion debacle.
Unite regional officer Onay Kasab said: "Tory-controlled Bromley council has been a major cheerleader for the privatisation of public services, but GLL and Certitude Support have failed, hence the two strike ballots.
"The GLL ballot is about staffing, pay and time off for union duties. Staff are at breaking point and GLL has stated that posts will be cut. We have asked for numbers of those earmarked for redundancy, which it has not yet provided.
"Certitude has refused to recognise the union or to discuss pay. In addition, staff have persistently raised maintenance issues with serious health and safety implications.
The Certitude ballot runs from 25 January to 12 February and voting on action at GLL opens on 26 January, closing on 13 February.
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In The Socialist 24 January 2018:
What we think
Turn Carillion crisis into movement against privatisation and capitalism
Socialist Party news and analysis
Welsh NHS crisis - we cannot go on like this
£2m to remove Grenfell-type cladding: residents to get bill
Leeds playing fields rescued from Blairites
May's "war on plastic" still puts profits before the planet
Vietnam war
Vietnam War: 50 years since the Tet Offensive
Socialist Party workplace news
Lecturers vote for strikes against pension cuts
PCS executive agrees next steps in pay campaign
Brum care workers protest council attacks
Amy Murphy Usdaw campaign meeting
Ballots against Bromley privatisers
Ferrybridge: Workers down tools over unpaid wages
International socialist news and analysis
Punishment of Tamimi family awakens wave of international solidarity
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
Defend Louise Harrison - save Yorkshire women's services!
Victory against government's war on eastern European homeless
Gentrification scourge hits Kent
Kirklees council opens consultation of library services
Southampton: Pay rise for uni boss, job losses for lecturers
Obituaries
Obituary: Maureen Mulhearn 1945-2018
Opinion
Carillion and the construction industry
Carillion crisis exposes PFI chaos
Universal credit: set up to fail
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