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Lambeth – death by a thousand cuts

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DEMONSTRATION AGAINST THE CUTS TO LOCAL SERVICES

Wednesday 4th March 2026 – 6pm Outside Lambeth Town Hall

Lambeth Council is facing a budget crisis. A large part of it is to do with decades of underfunding and cuts from the Conservative run government. Some of it is self inflicted like the disastrous fall out from Homes For Lambeth.

Image of leaflet Salve Lambeth local services! Protest on 4th March at 6pm outside the Town Hall

As a result the Council is slashing millions from its budget. It faces a “cliff edge”, either this year or next. It means even more job cuts on an already overworked and stretched workforce.

But for the people of Lambeth it means further reductions in services

  • The closure of Central Hill day centre one of the few services in the borough for people with dementia
  • Libraries and leisure centres on skeleton staffing levels. 
  • A consultation on possible closure nurseries at Maytree, Effra and Triangle.
  • £700k from the parks budget with potentially sweeping job losses

The list is growing. 

This is on top of the continuing housing crisis in the borough with huge waiting lists, thousands of people in contemporary accommodation and still reeling from penalties levelled by the Housing Ombudsman for failing tenants. 

UNISON and community groups have called a protest on 4th March outside the Town Hall in Brixton as this is the date for full Council to agree the budget.

DEMONSTRATION AGAINST THE CUTS TO LOCAL SERVICES

Wednesday 4th March 2026

6pm Outside Lambeth Town Hall

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Lambeth Housing: overworked and stressed

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A recent survey of UNISON members at Lambeth Council who work in Housing has shown the scale of the problem of local government struggling under a decade of austerity, poor political decisions and a culture of overwork as staff struggling to deal with significant problems in the borough.

UNISON Housing Survey into workload and stress

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Survey of UNISON members in Housing December 2025 – January 2026
109 responded to this survey

Join the march against the far right! 28th March London

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The voices of division in our country are growing louder. Those who preach division are becoming more confident.

For the first time we face a far-right party topping the polls, and far right protests on our streets mobilising the biggest numbers they ever have.

Their false promises seize on the very real economic problems people face, in order to scapegoat migrants, Muslims, and refugees.

But we can change things together. The voices of unity can grow stronger. We can show that strength lies in solidarity. That the change we need comes from us working together for hope not despair, for unity not racism.

This is why the Together Alliance has been formed. 

Together we can reject narratives of division and racism.

Together we can build solidarity across communities.

Together we can unite against the far right.

Our alliance of over 80+ organisations and hundreds of individuals is coming together to say enough is enough.

We are mobilising and organising across the country to bring a message of hope over fear, prior to holding a major demonstration in London on 28 March 2026.

Lambeth UNISON will be joining the protest on 28th March and there are plans for a meeting point in south London and a feeder march. If you want to help us get the word out then please contact lambethunisonunion@gmail.com

Andrea Egan

General Secretary Election 2025: who your branch is backing!

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The general secretary is the most senior role in the union. They represent UNISON when talking to the media, other unions, employers and to Parliament. UNISON has to elect its general secretary every five years.

As the largest trade union in the UK, who runs UNISON matters. It matters in the country at large, and it matters in your workplace.

UNISON’s elected General Secretary runs our union, manages its 1,200 staff and ultimately determines the kind of union we are and can become. The General Secretary and their abilities and qualities is the single biggest factor in whether or not UNISON succeeds and wins for you at work and on pay.

There are two candidates in the 2025 election:

  1. Andrea Egan
  2. Christina McAnea

Following a branch committee meeting, discussion and a vote, your branch has decided to nominate Andrea Egan for General Secretary. 

Our Branch is backing Andrea Egan for General Secretary because Andrea:

  • Has a clear plan for successful action on Pay, ending the stagnation of the last fifteen years.
  • Will take the wage of a social worker, not the £181,000 package our current General Secretary receives. Andrea’s pay will go up when yours does.
  • Opposes UNISON’s subservience to Starmer’s Labour. UNISON members will come first, not the Labour Party.
  • Will free up and resource branches so we can better support you, giving you access to legal advice when needed.
  • Has successfully led campaigns to defend Schools and Council terms and conditions.

Andrea Egan
Andrea Egan

How the election works

Voting will be over a 4-week period from Tuesday 28 October to Tuesday 25 November. Ballots will be mailed out by the Post Office from Tuesday 28 October so are likely to arrive any time from a few days to a couple of weeks after this date. 

1.5 million UNISON members – our in-work members plus our Retired members – get a vote in this election, so it is a big exercise, and ballot mailouts are staggered. By law, we cannot allow members to vote electronically, so lookout for your ballot paper which will be posted to your home address.

Inside will be a smaller addressed envelope, with the postage already paid. Vote by placing an X in the box beside your preferred candidate’s name, put the ballot in the envelope and put it in the post box. Simple!

Members are strongly encouraged to use their vote in this important election that comes only once every five years. Make your choice and have your voice heard!

Lambeth libraries strike update

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UNISON members in Lambeth Libraries voted to take strike action due to start this week. 

During negotiations we made excellent progress so the UNISON strike in Lambeth Libraries has been suspended as management have conceded on all of UNISONs “red lines”.

The strike mandate remains live, and UNISON will not officially close the dispute until all agreements are in place.

UNISON launched a trade dispute following the announcement of a restructure in the service, at all members meetings the following red lines were agreed:
 

  • Upgrading lowest graded posts
  • No Compulsory Redundancies
  • Safe and adequate staffing levels across all Registrars, Libraries and Archives 
  • No reduction in working conditions for any staff

During consultation the Council agreed the upgrading of the General Assistants (Porters) and Library Assistants. A timetable has been set for review of pay for the next lowest paid staff in December 2025.

Posts have been reinstated into the structure to avoid redundancy and improve staffing levels. Management have given a commitment to fill vacancies from next week to improve chronic understaffing in the area. There are three staff awaiting interviews for matched posts on Friday and UNISON have committed to call new strike dates if any member of staff is potentially redundant following these.

The Council has maintained terms and conditions, including a last-minute agreement that no staff will be forced to change timetables, that any changes to working patterns can only be implemented with the agreement of the individual staff members.

It is unusual to see union victories against local government cuts, but it is also unusual to see live strike ballots against cuts in local government. The Lambeth Libraries dispute should motivate other groups of workers to fight back collectively against local government austerity.

UNISON Branch Secretary Simon Hannah said:

“We know this has only been possible because staff were determined to stick together and take collective action to protect their jobs and their workmates. Thank you to everyone who did work on reaching the ballot thresholds and preparing pickets. In addition, we have had fantastic support from the local community, with campaigners and Friends of Libraries groups out in the community and at Council meetings.”

Lambeth Assembly – building a better borough 12 April

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Local trade unionists and residents have called a meeting on 12th April to coordinate campaigns against the huge cuts going through Lambeth but also discuss building our vision of a better borough.

Lambeth Council has announced “the worst financial crisis Lambeth has faced”. The Labour Party won the election telling us “no return to austerity” but our services are getting worse not better.

The Council is facing £99 million in cuts. Government housing policy has driven soaring costs of temporary accommodation, this combined with long term underfunding leave councils at breaking point. The proposals include job losses, closing children’s centres, cuts to Early Intervention and Prevention, youth and play services, cuts to adult day centres, and losing £1million from local libraries. (25% of the budget)

Now disability benefits are being slashed to promote ‘growth’. Join us to demand Lambeth Council and the Labour Government improve local services:

• Rebuild public services • Restore real wages and benefits • Tax the rich!

Saturday 12th April

11am – 4pm

St Matthews Tenants Hall, SW2 1ND

Join local trade unionists, residents, climate campaigners and anti-war activists alongside others to build the campaign against local cuts and for a better borough based on fully funded local services, care for the environment and anti racism. Get tickets from Eventbrite here

SPEAKERS TO BE CONFIRMED

Co-sponsored by Lambeth UNISON

Leaflet for 12 AprilDownload