RTUC Protests Outsourcing as RBC Signs Leisure Management Away

On 20 January 2020, the Reading Borough Council (RBC) Policy Committee met to sign away the management of Reading's leisure services for 25 years. The move, appointing Greenwich Leisure Ltd (GLL) as management company for the town's four leisure facilities (Rivermead, Meadway, South Reading and Palmer Park), contravenes Reading & District Labour Party (RDLP) policy as arrived at in October 2018 when the party passed a motion which resolved:

1. To affirm support for the policy set out in the 2017 Labour Party Manifesto opposing the outsourcing of public services.

2. To affirm support for the national agreement reached between the Unions and the LGA Labour Group.

3. To instruct the Chair of RDLP to write to the RBC Labour Group requesting it abandon proposals to ‘market test’ the services identified above by way of competitive tender under the rules of public procurement law.

4. To instruct the Chair of RDLP to write to the RBC Labour Group requesting it reconsider proposals to establish charitable trusts to manage Children’s Services and Museums and Libraries.

5. To instruct the Chair of RDLP to further request the RBC Labour Group to commit to working collaboratively with Trades Unions and other staff to find better ways to deliver services, taking account of wider economic, social and environmental considerations.

6. To instruct the Chair of RDLP to respectfully request the Leader and Deputy Leader of RBC to report back to the next RDLP AMM on these matters and participate in a substantive discussion on the merits of ways of providing services, whilst meeting the Council’s financial obligations.

7. To instruct the RDLP executive committee to ensure that an All Members Meeting is held in October 2018.

RTUC and other community groups protest outsourcing
ahead of the RBC Policy Committee Meeting

Reading Trades Union Council was well represented, with Neil Adams (Unite), Nikki Dancey (GMB), James Denny (RMT), Steve Geary (USDAW), John Gillman (Unite), Keith Jerrome (Unite), James Parker (Unite), Ray Parkes (Unite), John Partington (TSSA), Sue Taylor (PCS) and Tanya Wills (Unite) forming a presence. The Reading Chronicle covered the meeting but marginalised the protest. A much more balanced news piece was provided by That's Thames Valley TV, which interviewed John Partington of RTUC, David McMullen of GMB and Cllrs Jason Brock and Graeme Hoskin (RBC Leader and Lead Councillor for Health, Wellbeing & Sport, respectively).

John warned of the pressure staff's terms and conditions of employment will be under following outsourcing, with zero hours contracts and diluted pension entitlements being real concerns. David highlighted depreciated hygiene at Bracknell's similarly outsourced facilities and the reduced investment in services. The 25-year duration of RBC's award to GLL without a break clause is an additional cause for concern. The news broadcast can be seen here:

Despite the protests staged by RTUC, the Rivermead Bowling Club, Save Arthur Hill Pool and members of RDLP, RBC's Policy Committee voted to award the management contract for Reading leisure to GLL for 25 years. RTUC and its affiliated trade unions will scrutinise practice and hold GLL to account until such time as the leisure services can be brought back in house - in line with Labour Party policy.

RTUC protests Reading Borough Council Outsourcing Proposals

Reading Trades Union Council delegates, including Neil Adams (Unite), James Denny (RMT), Steve Geary (USDAW), John Gillman (Unite), James Parker (Unite), Ray Parkes (Unite), John Partington (TSSA), Chris Reilly (RMT) and Tanya Wills (Unite), were joined by members of Reading Socialist Party and Reading & District Labour Party, as well as unaffiliated individuals, to protest the proposals recently tabled by Reading Borough Council to OUTSOURCE ALL OF READING'S LEISURE SERVICES to one private management company. These services include Rivermead Leisure Centre, Palmer Park, Medway Sport and South Reading Leisure Centre.

RTUC, RSP and RDLP Members Protest RBC Outsourcing Proposals

The proposals, announced in the Reading Chronicle on 10 January 2020, would breach Reading Labour Party policy and show an utter disregard for trade union opposition by councillors of all political hues, including the ruling Labour Group. Reading Labour Party's policy to oppose outsourcing and actively pursue insourcing of council services was adopted in October 2018 when RDLP passed a motion which resolved:

1. To affirm support for Labour Party policy set out in the 2017 Labour Party Manifesto and conference resolution of Composite Motion 6 on 27 September 2018, opposing the outsourcing of public services.
2. To affirm support for the national agreement reached between the Unions and the LGA Labour Group.
3. To instruct the Chair of RDLP to write to the RBC Labour Group requesting it abandon proposals to ‘market test’ Revenue and Benefits services.
4. To instruct the Chair of RDLP to write to the RBC Labour Group requesting it reconsider proposals to establish charitable trusts to manage Children’s Services and Museums and Libraries.
5. To instruct the Chair of RDLP to further request the RBC Labour Group to commit to working collaboratively with Trades’ Unions and other staff to undertake a comprehensive feasibility study into the delivery of all Revenue and Benefits services through in-house provision, taking account of wider economic, social and environmental considerations.
6. To instruct the Chair of RDLP to respectfully request the Leader and Deputy Leader of RBC to report back to the next RDLP AMM on this matter.

Outsourcing Protest t the Civic Offices

On the basis of this resolution, Reading Labour councillors should oppose the RBC proposal, which would contract Reading's leisure services - including new swimming pools at Rivermead and Palmer Park - to a private management company for 25 YEARS. Such private finance initiatives have been discredited since the indebtedness incurred by the NHS following such deals in the 2000s became apparent in the last decade. Indeed, a similar arrangement to RBC's proposal was entered into by Bracknell's Tory council - and its poor performance has been such that the council is now discussing the service provider, Everyone Active's  progress! The current private management company at Rivermead - Greenwich Leisure Ltd - which may or may not be RBC's preferred bidder for the comprehensive leisure contract - has a poor track record as a service provider and an employer, and is currently in dispute with Unite the Union in Bromley over its abuse of workers' terms and conditions (including use of zero hours contracts) and its refusal to recognise trade unions. (Reading's Lead Councillor for Sport, Health & Wellbeing, is Cllr Graeme Hoskin, a Unite member, so one would expect him to take heed of his trade union's damning report in any dealings RBC has with Greenwich Leisure Ltd.)

RBC is due to decide on the Reading leisure contract at its next Policy Committee meeting on 20 January. The option to reject an outsourcing contract is still available to Labour Group; RTUC urges Reading Borough Council to opt for direct council management of Reading leisure services in line with RDLP policy and like many councils do throughout the UK.

A contingent of anti-outsourcing protesters, organised by the 'Save Arthur Hill Pool' community group and RTUC, will be present outside the Council Offices on 20 January from at 5.30pm to let the councillors and the public know that RBC's outsourcing of public services is not going unopposed and to encourage an eleventh hour change of heart.

Remember William Winterbourne of Kintbury

On 11 January 2020 trade unionists from Berkshire and surrounding counties joined Kintbury villagers at St Mary's Church to remember the life and death of William Winterbourne. Buried as 'William Smith' in the parish churchyard, Winterbourne was executed in 1831 for leading the 'Swing Riots' in Berkshire - a movement of 'physical force' collective bargaining which offered landowners the choice of wage rises for their labourers or the destruction of their threshing machines.

Trade Unionists and villagers at William Winterbourne's Grave

Around Berkshire, several landowners paid the price for immiserating their workforce with the smashing up or burning of their technologically advanced machinery which was replacing many agricultural workers and driving down wages. Landowners increased their profits through greater productivity and lower labour costs - but were reluctant to share their increased wealth with their workers.

Keith Jerrome Expostulates Eloquently to Assembled Comrades

The 'Swing Rioters' sought to redress this injustice, with 'Captain' Winterbourne leading the aggrieved from village to village, farm to farm, seeking work for idle hands and improved pay for agricultural labourers. When Winterbourne was arrested, however, justice was merciless. He was identified as the ringleader, condemned to death and publicly hanged from the walls of Reading Gaol on 11 January 1831 under the gaze of the townsfolk, observing in silence according to contemporary reports. (Two others condemned to death had their sentences commuted to transportation to Australia; dozens of others received gaol sentences.)

The Grave of William 'Smith' Winterbourne

The day commenced with refreshments in the St Mary's Church Hall before Keith Jerrome (Unite) gave a graveside historical account of Winterbourne's campaign and death. He explained how the vicar of St Mary's brought the remains of Winterbourne to his church - an unusual practice for an executed person - and buried him as 'William Smith' (possibly to hide the nature of his death). Following Keith, a Winterbourne descendent recited a poem on her forebear's fate.

Reading Trades Union Council was well represented at the memorial service, with Kevin Brandstatter (GMB), Nikki Dancey (GMB), James denny (RMT), Steve Geary (USDAW), Ray Parkes (Unite), John Partington (TSSA) and Tanya Wills (Unite) attending as well as Keith Jerrome (Unite).