THE latest wave of strikes by Bradford library staff will take place across the District next week.

For several weeks staff have been taking part in industrial action over planned cuts to the service by Bradford Council of over £1.05m in 2020/21.

A number of strikes and pickets have been organised for next week by the Unite Union. Around 70 members are expected to take part.

And the union has urged Bradford residents to take part in a consultation on the cuts which is currently being run by Bradford Council.

There will be a strike and picket at Ilkley Library on Monday from 8.30am.

On Tuesday there will be an "all-out" strike at 14 library sites. Pickets will be in place at City Library from 8.30am with a demonstration at City Hall.

There will be a strike and picket at Keighley library at 11am on Wednesday and one at Bingley Library on Thursday at 8am.

Chance to have your say on future of library service - which faces over £1m cut in budget

Friday will see the second all-out strike of the week at all sites with a picket and demonstration at Cliffe Castle museum from 7.30am.

Unite regional officer Mark Martin said: “Given the overwhelming support our members have received during the course of this dispute, it is clear that public opinion is the key to resolving this – after all, Bradford residents have the votes to eject the councillors who are pushing through these flawed proposals. 

“The public is strongly backing our campaign – we receive completed petition sheets every day from the public. We know that more than 100 members of the public have sent letters to their local councillors calling for the council to get back round the table and to stop cuts to the service.

“We would like to thank members of the public whose fantastic support has really buoyed up our members - people have stopped to talk to the pickets and brought warm drinks for free to the pickets. We are grateful to people for keeping up the pressure on their councillors to reach a resolution.

“However, we are still deeply disappointed at the stubborn refusal of the council bosses to agree to a pause in the cuts’ process and their continual refusal to enter into constructive negotiations.”

A Bradford Council spokesperson said: “We are disappointed that around 50 Unite members, which is around 39 per cent of our overall libraries and museums workforce, have decided to vote for strike action.

"It remains unclear why Unite have adopted this position and this is compounded by the fact that Unite representatives have so far turned down a number of invites to present their concerns regarding our consultation process to date.

“The Council has finished consultation for the 2019/20 changes to the libraries and museums services and they were implemented on September 1. No libraries were closed during this process.

“We believe that Unite would be better served working with us, offering their views on what can be done to achieve the savings required of the library service in the face of prolonged government cuts and helping to shape the future of our library service, rather than taking this action which will primarily impact library service users and be of no benefit to staff or residents.

“During the course of any strike action, anticipated on dates between October 2019 and January 2020, subject to Unite confirming dates, Bradford Council will take steps to help ensure that library services are still provided to residents.

“We will also continue with plans to commence a programme of engagement and consultation with all stakeholders about the future of the library service in Bradford District.”

Bradford Council's Consultation on the future of library services runs until December 20.

To take part visit bradford.gov.uk/consultations/current-consultations/libraries-service-engagement/