by Clare Doyle, Hackney Socialist Party
On the morning of Wednesday 29 September, the third day of a two-week strike at the British Library, Jeremy Corbyn addressed a very lively picket line at the revered establishment. The day before, John McDonnell MP had spoken there about a parliamentary motion being moved to support the 300 or so highly skilled workers involved.
A massive 98.23% vote for strike action is an indication of the anger that has accumulated amongst the workforce at this prestigious and historic institution. Nick Alen, PCS branch chair (and controller of the lively music system on the picket line!) explained the background and why there is such anger.
Photo: Rob WIlliams
“A PCS library strike two years ago campaigned for a 5% rise. The government capitulated and there was a lump sum of £1,500 ‘thrown in’. But inflation ate into our rise. We had the added burden of a criminal attack on our computer system. Our personal data was stolen. We got the rap from the public as the services for them were disrupted and there was no management intervention on our behalf.
“Our members are highly qualified. Some have doctorates, masters degrees, and membership of professional bodies to do their work – their salaries are around the £31,000 a year mark, with the lowest paid on even less on the London Living Wage”.
As a strike leaflet puts it, “In 2024, we were offered below-sector pay rises of 3%. Meanwhile, executives took home salaries ranging between £80,000 and £170,000, with some receiving £10-15,000 in bonuses”. A restructure is going on with senior management getting “fancy new titles” and the workforce – “a below-inflation 2.4% pay rise”!
No wonder the pickets show a lively determination to win this fight. They were getting noisy support from drivers on the busy road alongside St Pancras International station. As the pickets dispersed for the day, they told me proudly that the library’s management was at the doors and so-called security was being done by agency staff.
Audrey, a health and safety rep in the library, told me, “Ten out of the eleven reading rooms are closed!” The fight goes on!