Walk and Rally for Greenwich Public Libraries

WALK TO SAVE GREENWICH LIBRARY SERVICE FROM PRIVATISATION

5th MAY 2012



ASSEMBLE 11.30 am AT ELTHAM LIBRARY – 2 ARCHERY ROAD, ELTHAM, SE9


MOVE OFF 12 NOON


WALK ENDS WITH A RALLY IN GENERAL GORDON SQUARE – WOOLWICH


RUTH RIKOWSKI WILL BE SPEAKING AT THE RALLY


SUPPORT GREENWICH LIBRARY SERVICE AND GREENWICH LIBRARY WORKERS


STOP THE ROT NOW, WHILST WE STILL HAVE THE CHANCE -

OTHERWISE WE ARE ON A VERY SLIPPERY ROAD, TOWARDS SUBSCRIPTIONS,
MORE CHARGING, DEEPENING COMMERCIALISATION AND PRIVATISATION AND  A VERY MINIMALIST PUBLIC LIBRARY SERVICE THROUGHOUT THE UK

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Information from UNITE

" Greenwich UNITE,  Old Town Hall, Polytechnic Street, Woolwich, SE18 6PN

WHY ARE UNITE TAKING INDUSTRIAL ACTION?

GREENWICH COUNCIL IS ‘TRANSFERRING” ITS LIBRARY SERVICE
TO A PRIVATE COMPANY, GLL

GREENWICH REFUSED TO CONSULT THE PUBLIC
WHO ARE TOTALLY AGAINST THE TRANSFER


GREENWICH WILL PAY £3.3 MILLION A YEAR OF YOUR MONEY TO
GLL TO RUN THE LIBRARIES


THE MANAGING DIRECTOR OF GLL PAYS HIMSELF £175,000 A YEAR.


AT THE SAME TIME LIBRARY WORKERS WILL FACE CUTS IN PAY AND CONDITIONS.



GLL EMPLOYS MOSTLY LOW-WAGE AND SESSIONAL WORKERS WITH FEW RIGHTS



GLL HAS A RECORD OF INTRODUCING CHARGES FOR SERVICES



ONCE THE LIBRARIES ARE PRIVATISED YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET THEM BACK



GLL WANT TO PRIVATISE AS MANY COUNCIL SERVICES AS POSSIBLE



THE STRIKE IS ABOUT OBJECTING TO OUR PAY & CONDITIONS BEING CUT. BUT YOU TOO WILL BE HIT BY THE TRANSFER. WE KNOW THAT GLL WILL CLOSE LIBRARIES. THEY WILL GET RID OF THE MOBILE LIBRARY AND THE SMALLER LIBRARIES WILL BE NEXT



THIS IS WHAT GLL SAY ON THEIR WEBSITE :

“We may not be the cheapest in raw price terms, but if accountants were able to properly quantify the ‘social added value’ of our work we are confident we would always offer best value. Social Enterprise can provide more sustainable solutions in a stormy financial climate for Libraries, Parks, Play and a whole host of services. There are real opportunities for enhanced services at reduced costs.” – M Sesnan GLL Managing Director

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR CAMPAIGN BY DOING THE FOLLOWING:-

Write to the Chief Executive – Mary Ney, Royal Borough of Greenwich, Town Hall, Wellington Street, Woolwich, SE18 6HQ

Write to the Leader of the Council – Cllr Chris Roberts, Royal Borough of Greenwich, Town Hall, Wellington Street, Woolwich, SE18 6HQ

Send a Message of support to the strikers – C/o Greenwich UNITE, Old Town Hall, Polytechnic Street, Woolwich, SE18 6PN

Make a donation to the campaign – Cheques payable to Greenwich Unite, Old Town Hall, Polytechnic Street, Woolwich, SE18 6PN

Join The Walk To Save Your Library Service "