Unison members gathered at Lincolnshire County Council’s Newland offices on May 20, ahead of the council’s Annual General Meeting, to start fresh industrial action.
Hundreds of jobs are set to go at the council, as the authority attempts to save £57 million this year alone in the face of government austerity measures, which are costing it a total of £125 million.
The union recently voted for industrial action against the council. Its members will “work to rule” from May 20, meaning they’ll stop working unpaid overtime, stop taking on additional responsibilities on top of what they’re paid for, and insist on proper rest breaks.
Over 800 members who work in health and social care at the council were already working to rule.
Now Unison’s members across all council departments will join them.
John Sharman, Unison Branch Secretary for the East Midlands, told The Lincolnite: “It’s the annual meeting of the County Council today, so it’s a particularly symbolic day we have chosen to start industrial action.
“The message to the County Council and to the people of Lincolnshire, and to the coalition government, is that the cuts to public services are not acceptable.
“We don’t believe that it is right that our members and the communities they provide services to should pay the price for the greed and the incompetence of the banks and financial institutions.”
David O’Connor, LCC’s Executive Director of Performance and Governance, had said previously: “There were no alternative proposals put forward by the trade unions during the dispute on how the council’s budget should be allocated, except that job losses should only occur through natural wastage.”
Sharman says their alternative is “to spread the reduction in staffing budgets over the four year budget cycle and not to make it all in the first year, at the start of the cycle, which is what the council is going to do.”
He added: “We recognise that it’s not Lincolnshire County Council’s decision to axe the funding that it receives from central government, but we’d have hoped that they’d have made a better protest.”
Janet Hutchinson, who works for Children’s Services at the council, said: “We’re here because we want to make it known still that there’s opposition to the cuts. We don’t yet think the job losses are clear to the public.
“We’re very concerned that the implications of the cuts have not hit individuals really, either because of job losses or loss of services.”
She said the council seems “adamant that this is the way they feel it needs to be done” and that she is not optimistic of a compromise.
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Residents, visitors, and traders have expressed their disappointment following the cancellation of the beloved Lincoln Christmas Market, on what would have been the inaugural day of this year’s four-day event.
Although the poor weather might have deterred some people, the city’s Bailgate area was notably quiet around 12pm on Thursday, typically the time the event usually opens its doors.
Although Lincoln’s famous Christmas Market is no more this year, and won’t be opening today, there are still alternative festive events happening in Lincoln.
City of Lincoln Council’s decision to cancel the 40-year-old event over safety concerns prompted backlash from people and business but, despite pleas from opposition members, its leaders would not change their stance.
There are, however, still some events in Lincoln to get you in the festive mood this week, including these highlights:
Christmas Market at County Assembly Rooms
The County Assembly Rooms in the Bailgate will still hold its own Christmas Market that it has done for many years.
Manager Gill Hunter said stallholders had already pre-booked and 70% still wanted to do it despite the cancellation of the city’s 40-year-old Christmas Market in uphill Lincoln.
There will be a range of festive stalls, food, drinks and performers when it opens at the following times:
Thursday, December 7 (4pm-9pm)
Friday, December 8 (10am-9pm)
Saturday, December 9 (10am-9pm)
Sunday, December 10 (10am-7pm)
This coincides with the free parking at selected city council car parks in uphill Lincoln on Thursday and Friday. This is available at these car parks: Westgate 1,2,3, St Pauls, Castle Hill, The Lawn, and Langworthgate
The bar at The County Assembly Rooms will be serving hot chocolate, festive sandwiches, alcoholic beverages and more. There will also be a brewery selling bottle ale and roasted hot chestnuts will also be available to buy.
Lincoln Castle Illuminated
Lincoln Castle Illuminated will run from Friday, December 8 until Saturday, December 23.
The Castle grounds will be bejewelled with festive lights and illuminated Christmas features. You can take a drip down Candy Cane Lane and also see the resident Castle dragons Lucy and Norman.
The Castle has retained its popular Illuminated Wall Walk, but the lift is currently out of action so it can only be accessed via the spiral staircase.
You can also board the ‘Mini Polar Express’ and enjoy traditional fairground rides.
In addition, there will be local vendors offering sweet treats and winter warmers, including hot chocolate and mulled wine.
Dog friendly evenings will take place on December 13 and 20.
The full Lincoln Castle Illuminated experience costs £11 for adults, £10 for concessions, £6 for children, and £28 for family tickets. Alternatively, you can choose to visit the grounds only for £3 per head (free for under 5s).
Festive fun at Lincoln Cathedral
Lincoln Cathedral will be hosting an array of festive events this month, including during what would have been the Christmas Market period.
Crafters market in the Cloisters – December 8 and 9 (10.30am-4.30pm)
Nativity Crafts – December 9 (10am-3.30pm)
London Concertante: Christmas at the Movies – December 9 (7.30pm). Ticket prices range from £33.99 to £47.72
‘After Hours’: Walking towards Christmas – December 10 (6.45pm)
Winter Market at Lincoln Museum
Lincoln Museum on Danes Terrace is holding a Winter Market on Saturday, December 9, which has been organised by Shelf Editions.
There will also be workshops to take part in including metal wreath (£45) and felt decoration (£15) making, which can be booked via the museum’s website.
For the younger visitors there is also a free drop-in Calendar wreath craft session with the Elbow Room Collective.
Entry to the market is free from 10am-4pm with the cafe serving a festive menu from 11am-3pm.
Lincoln Ice Trail
Lincoln Ice Trail will run from 10am-8pm on Saturday and Sunday, December 9 and 10.
There will be 20 Lincoln-themed ice sculptures to find – you can pick up a map of the trail from the Visitor Information Centre.
In addition, there will be festive entertainment, as well as live-ice carving demonstrations of the Cathedral.
The Travelling Historical Christmas Market
Although this event is next week, The Travelling Historical Christmas Market offers another festive alternative for people in Lincoln.
The free event will take place at St Mary le Wigford Church on St Mary’s Street between December 14 and 17 at the following times: