Defend trade unionists fighting cuts – solidarity urgently needed

Waltham Forest Labour council, which has voted through 17 rounds of cuts to jobs and services, including library closures, has now told around 20 library and Waltham Forest Direct staff that they have lost their jobs.

This latest round of job cuts has included trade union activist and anti-cuts campaigner Nancy Taaffe.

Many believe this is a politically motivated attack on a trade union militant who has tirelessly worked over years to oppose the council’s attacks and privatisation, including standing as a no-cuts candidate in the 2010 general election.

In front of her colleagues at an “Interviewing Skills” workshop, prior to the competitive re-interviewing process the council forced on its workforce, Nancy was told by the facilitator that her interview skills were second to none.

However, when she received her scoring from Human Resources it revealed that she had been given minimum scoring.

Nancy’s sacking follows a developing pattern of victimisation of trade union activists in councils and by the government.

This must be met with a determined resistance. Nancy is leading a challenge in Waltham Forest. Please send letters of protest to Cllr Chris Robbins at [email protected] with copies to Nancy at [email protected].

Below is a model letter for anti-cuts and trade union activists to send to Chris Robbins, leader of Labour-led Waltham Forest council.

Waltham Forest Town Hall

Forest Road

Walthamstow

London E17 4JF

Dear Councillor Robbins

It has come to my attention that Waltham Forest Labour council, which has voted through 17 rounds of cuts to jobs and services, including library closures, has now told around 20 library and Waltham Forest Direct staff that they have lost their jobs. I oppose these cuts in jobs and services.

I am appalled at the fact that Nancy Taaffe, Libraries convenor and Unison branch chair, has been removed from her job in what appears to be a blatant attempt to remove a fighting trade union leader.

I believe that this has happened because of Nancy’s record of fighting tirelessly for union members and for public services in Waltham Forest.

The council appears to want to remove good activists in order to make it easier to push through further savage cuts.

I urge you to withdraw the threat of job losses and the threat to Nancy Taaffe.