Housing

Stand up to Lambeth: demonstration on 8 October

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Lambeth UNISON agreed to back the Stand up to Lambeth demonstration on 8 October (assemble 12.00 noon Windrush Square Brixton and march to Clapham Common).

Stand up to Lambeth is a body comprised of a number of Community and Housing Campaigns in the borough calling for:
STOP estate demolitions
STOP the closure of our Libraries
STOP the closure of Brixton Arches
STOP destroying our communities
STOP racial and social inequality
STOP academisation STOP financial waste
Stop Stealing the people of Lambeth’s Future

This is a very important protest so we urge our member to join in. Lambeth UNISON will be there with its banner.

The Facebook event is here https://www.facebook.com/events/1725669004362529

Housing Services Phase 1: The answer to our problems – three more Assistant Directors?

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Staff are overstretched, the HRA is facing financial pressure and workers fear for the future of their jobs. Here at Lambeth, our bosses have the perfect solution—more high paid managers!

The Director of Housing has launched “phase one” of a restructure which has been expected since Lambeth Living returned to the Council last summer.

The “Phase One” proposals do not threaten any redundancies – quite the reverse. As well as changing a number of reporting lines (mostly for managers) the proposals seek to create three new Assistant Director positions. The Director has told the trade unions that, in “Phase Two” he will aim to move more staff into front-line housing management roles.

Because there are no redundancies proposed, the Council is permitted to allow only a short (one week) period for consultation – UNISON encourages members to look closely at the proposals so that we can respond as soon as possible.

UNISON want to know

  • Given the financial pressure on the Housing Revenue Account (and the Council’s Budget generally) how can we afford three additional senior posts?
  • How can we justify more highly paid managers in an already top heavy Council?
  • Since black workers are underrepresented at senior levels why is there no Equality Impact Assessment and no proposals for positive action in filling senior posts?
  •  As there are no proposals for redundancies in “Phase One” will the Council assure us of no compulsory redundancies in Housing in “Phase Two”?

The Council has ruled out compulsory redundancies in libraries – where UNISON members have taken strike action. If we want to protect our interests as workers in Housing we need to be prepared to stand up for ourselves.

If you are a UNISON member – contact your shop steward or Branch Secretary, Ruth Cashman

(RCashman[at]lambeth.gov.uk). If you are not a trade union member visit https://www.unison.org.uk/join/ now!