We the undersigned are opposed to cutting library services and jobs. The current proposed library restructure will have a drastic impact on the library service, including events provision, and on staff workload within Hackney libraries. We also call on the Council to allow a deputation from these signatories to attend the next full Council Meeting.
The Strategic Director has drafted ways to save £445,000 in 2023/24 in the library service which is £245,000 more than initially intended by the Council. At the same time Senior Management salaries have been boosted by £50,000. All jobs deleted with no one guaranteed a job – a winter of record-high inflation and looming economic recession is not good news for the staff or the library service.
While Hackney Council have done a commendable job of keeping all of their libraries open, despite twelve years of Tory cuts these proposals if implemented could end up with library closures.
We, therefore, call on the Council to use its reserves initially to maintain the current budget for libraries, and to join with the community, the staff and trade unions in a mass campaign to demand from the government the funds to maintain the current service provision.
Petition organiser: Brian Debus, 07428778286.
We need 750 signatures for the petition to be responded to by the full council at Hackney Town Hall in November.
