Bradford Socialist Party members
Around 50 Unite members in libraries and museums across Bradford have entered their second round of strike action, escalating from two to three days of action this week.
As well as rallying in the city centre, strikers have held rallies outside a number of local libraries linking up with concerned service users in places like Wibsey and Ilkley.
The services face £1.21 million cuts in 2019-20 and a further £1.55 million in 2020-21. There are already half-day closures taking place at libraries at short notice due to staff shortages. Further cuts will make the service even less sustainable. Both Bradford Industrial Museum and Bolling Hall Museums are already facing reduced openings.
In contrast to Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn who tweeted in support of the strikes during the first two days of action, and Shipley Labour candidate Jo Pike who addressed strikers on Tuesday, Bradford Labour council leader Susan Hinchliffe dismissively walked past the strikers. As one of the placards outside of City Hall stated “Labour your leader supports us, won’t you?”
At the Keighley rally during the first two day strikes, Socialist Party West Yorkshire Organiser Iain Dalton called on Bradford council to stop doing the dirty work of implementing the Tory cuts, and instead utilise the £165 million the council has in usable reserves (£31 million unallocated) to continue to fund the service.
Further four and five day strikes are planned to escalate the action, from 18-21 November and 2-6 December.
- Please send messages of support and donations FAO Mark Martin to Winwaed House, 64-66 Crossgates Road, Leeds, LS15 7NN. Cheques payable to Unite the Union.