Local government round up: All-out libraries strike continues in Bromley

Striking library workers in Bromley, south east London, plan five demonstrations in addition to their continuing strike.

The 50 Unite union members have been on indefinite strike since 6 June over staffing and other issues. They are employed by Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL).

Strikers are furious at the way GLL treats workers at Bromley’s 14 libraries.

Bosses haven’t filled vacant posts, have asked workers to be managers without paying the proper wage and failed to pay wages owed.

GLL has contracts at 140 leisure facilities across 16 London boroughs.

Unite is also demanding a 6 percent basic pay increase for all GLL workers.

The Unison union is celebrating after scoring a legal victory over holiday entitlement.

The Court of Appeal ruled last week that all workers are entitled to a minimum of

28 days paid annual leave, even if they don’t work for part of the year.

It also ruled that leave must be in line with a normal week’s pay or at a rate based on the average payment for the previous 12 weeks, if pay is irregular.

The appeal was brought by Lesley Brazel, a music teacher whose employer the Harper Trust wanted her to accept leave and pay below the legal minimum.