respice - prospice

Wednesday 14 May 2003

Hackney's parks-workforce trimmed again

Once again the most experienced workforce is lost. This piece from the Hackney Gazette shows that Hackney's parks and open spaces are again getting the raw deal we have come to expect. Glynn Harries the UNISON shop steward mentioned here is someone who really cares for open-space in Hackney and has worked and studied in his own time to gain skills and qualifications to support his determined attitude and make a difference to Hackney. When he and others were in charge of Hackney Marshes they were an absolute joy to visit. He and the team he worked with also helped to ensure that the woodland on Wick Field survived drought and LBH managerial incompetence - reward, transfer to Springfield Park - no remote union-official is he.

HACKNEY GAZETTE (17/04/03), Report by ADAM PLOWRIGHT

FLOWER beds and green space could be under threat after a round of job cuts left several experienced workers out in the cold. Council staff bid a fond farewell last week to colleagues, many of whom are the longest-serving workers in the town hall's parks department. "We've got over 100 years', experience between us," said supervisor, Richard Wager, referring to himself and four others who have lost their jobs, including Peter Woodcock, who has worked in Hackney's parks for 36 years.

Greg Waruszynski, who is leaving after 12 years, called it "a total waste". "It'll take them months to work everything out and it's the worst time," he said. "This is me busiest part of the year."

Glyn Harries, shop steward for UNISON, the council workers' trade union, voiced fears that the cuts were untimely, adding: "The skill level has definitely dropped and you might find that the new staff haven't got the same commitment to the job." He was disappointed that the union's proposals to avoid the redundancies appeared to have been ignored by the town hall bosses. "We didn't get one response and letters were sent to every councillor," he said. His colleagues had not received even so much as a card or handshake from management. He added that the redundancy package, estimated to total £300,000, had left a big hole in the parks budget.

A Hackney Council spokeswoman said the team of 102 gardeners had been reduced to 85. The cutbacks had "redressed the imbalance of supervisors in proportion to parks operatives". The new team was "appropriate to the size of the operation" and she added that "10 seasonal staff will be available 32 weeks a year during the summer months when demand is greatest for their services". "The council has an obligation to make the best use of its resources," she said.
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