Islington Play Association has managed free adventure playgrounds in the London borough on behalf of the local council for 50 years.
Now it plans to cut its workers’ salaries by 20 per cent, saying that it has a £170,000 shortfall. This will put pressure on workers, who will no longer be able to afford their rent, and will either be forced to leave, or get extra jobs. In essence, the pay cuts are a form of fire and rehire. Workers were told that they had to sign new contracts or face dismissal and reengagement notices. Already workers’ salaries are low and this will be catastrophic as they leave and are replaced by less experienced workers. This cut is the equivalent of working five days for four days’ pay.
Playgrounds are important for young people, where they can feel safe, express themselves creatively, and have their own space. Not just workers and young people will suffer as a result of the pay cuts. For many families the playgrounds are a lifeline.
One thousand people signed a petition to stop the pay cuts.
The petition is at: www.change.org/p/stop-the-pay-cut-at-islington-play-association
One of the playgrounds, Crumbles Castle, grew out of activists, students, and local people getting together to develop a slum demolition site, and so represents a symbol of working class activism in Islington history.