KENT’S libraries will be hit by a series of damaging one-day strikes that could see many closing their doors to the public.

Staff have voted to strike in protest at a shake-up in the county’s library service, which they say will downgrade jobs and lead to an inferior service to the public.

The first day of action is scheduled for June 1 and is likely to affect nearly all of the county’s libraries.

Staff were formally balloted after talks with managers to resolve the dispute broke down. Of those balloted, 76 per cent backed industrial action. The turnout was 73 per cent.

Unison library steward Mary Nolze said the action meant the closure of some libraries was inevitable. She added KCC had lost the goodwill of staff and ignored concerns about the impact on the service.

She said: “It was a very substantial turnout and vote in favour, which really does indicate that KCC has lost the goodwill of its staff and they have lost faith in KCC.

“Our message to the public is that we are not doing this to harm them or because of pay. We are trying to save Kent’s libraries, which are in imminent danger of becoming a third world service.”

The dispute is about a re-structuring of the service that will create new posts of community librarians. Unison says the changes will mean fewer professionally qualified librarians to help the public and extra work for unqualified library assistants.

KCC said it was “extremely disappointed” that staff had voted to strike but was continuing to talk with Unison officials.

In a statement, Cllr Sarah Hohler, KCC cabinet member for libraries, said: “These plans are integral to the process of transforming Kent libraries which will deliver significant improvements to the service and include an increase in the number of staff serving the public on the front-line. No savings will be made on staffing as a result of these changes.”

The council said it would do what it could to keep libraries open.

KM-fm's Ed Cook has this report...