Library uniform scanadal

PRESS RELEASE

GREENWICH COUNCIL UNIFORM SCANDAL

Campaigners in Greenwich have greeted with rage the news that the Council is about to spend tens of thousands of pounds to kit out library staff in a uniform. The plan was resurrected after it was ditched some 4 years ago when it was originally proposed as part of the opening of the Eltham Centre. Now, while the Council has begun implementing a cuts programme of over £64 million which includes consideration of "outsourceing" the library service, the Council has decided that it will place staff at the library in the new Woolwich Centre in a uniform. The cost is likely to be over £50,000. The cost will need to take into account the fact that library workers are "generic". This means that they work in libraries across the borough. Therefore, the council will have to pay for a uniform for an individual who may only work in Woolwich once a month.

Paul Callanan from Greenwich Save Our Services stated "This is an outrage. While services are being cut and charges being raised and increased for services such as day centres for disabled adults, homecare, parking, allotments, tennis courts and burials, the Council nevertheless thinks that it is important to spend tens of thousands of pounds on an uneccessary uniform for library staff. What exactly will a uniform achieve? No doubt it is something to do with image - in other words our services are being cut and destroyed, but dont worry because the uniforms look nice! Greenwich SOS wants to know which Council Officer came up with the idea and further, demands that that Council officer goes out and justifies the proposal to those whose services are being cut"

For further details contact Paul Callanan on 07952255333

PRESS RELEASE

COUNCIL SECRET CUTS AGENDA

Greenwich Council recently agreed to begin making £27m of cuts as part of a cuts package that could eventually top £90m. What Councillors failed to mention was that the Directorate of Culture and Community Services is to be disbanded and that services such as libraries will be transferred out of the Council. While no firm proposals have emerged yet, the options include setting up a "trust", transferring to an established trust or to charities. Their is a real danger to the library services as a result. Previous attempts to cut libraries have been met with huge opposition. When previous plans to close libraries were leaked, the Council were forced into a u-turn following a union led campaign.

Greenwich Save Our Services secretary Paul Callanan accused the council of dishonesty: "This move is not about saving the service, in fact it is a very dishonest and cowardly proposal. As well as not mentioning it at the Council meeting, what the Council are doing is transferring the service out and hoping that somebody else makes the cut. This is what happened when the Glyndon Community Centre was transferred to a trust. Charges have gone up and the Trust now say that staffing costs are too high. We will fight together with library users against this attack on our library service"