Southampton librarians on strike tommorow and Monday over cuts

Librarians in Southampton will be on strike on Friday 13th August and Monday 16th August, according to the Dolphin's Blowhole blog.

No charges will be levied for hire or late fees for either day.

The strike is part of a long-running dispute over plans to replace seven librarians with volunteers and close Thornhill and Millbrook libraries.

Branch Secretary of UNISON Mike Tucker commented, "While recruiting a new senior manager on £120,000 a year, the Council is scrapping 7 front line library jobs to make the same amount of savings. Libraries need professional staff to provide a modern service to the people of Southampton."

UNISON members will picket Central, Shirley, Portswood, Woolston and Bitterne libraries from 8.30 a.m. on both days, according to UNISON active. Union members will also be visiting shopping centres with leaflets and a petition against the Council's plans.

Councillor John Hannides, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Culture and Heritage, commented: "Our proposals do not mean that our staff will lose their jobs. By taking the action we are we have managed to avoid this happening, unlike other local authorities...The alternative options would see a much diminished service in the future, which we will do all we can to avoid."

The cuts are part of a package of £8.1 million worth of savings by Southampton City Council.

An earlier one-day strike took place in late June and pickets were joined by local MP's John Denham and Alan Whitehead, as well as some Hampshire County Council librarians.