News
MBF plans retirement home closure
Rob Hughes Jul 29 2008, 12:37pm
Bromley UNISON demands that the proposal is scrapped
The Bromley branch of UNISON – Britain and Europe’s biggest public sector worker’s union – has issued a statement regarding a proposition by the Musician’s Benevolent Fund (MBF), to close its only remaining retirement home for former musicians, Ivor Newton House.
The statement demands that all the existing residents are allowed to remain at the home for as long as they wish and that there is no need for any redundancies.
“If they go ahead with the decision (due to take place this Thursday) it will mean that the 15 remaining residents in their 80’s and 90’s could be threatened with eviction if they refuse to go to another home,” it reads. “It will also mean every worker at the home being sacked after giving years of service to the residents.”
Glenn Kelly (UNISON branch secretary representing the staff) said: “the proposals are an outrage, these residents sold their own homes on the promise that they would be able to play out their last tune at Ivor Newton House, now they and their families rightly feel duped.”
“The residents and the staff are united in demanding that the MBF drop its plans. What sort of charity that was set up for the welfare of musicians, treats people like this. It appears that they know the price of everything and the value of nothing.”
UNISION is planning to continue its campaign to save the home - which has been housing elderly musicians and their relatives for over 30 years - and is being supported by the Muscians' Union (MU).
“The MU is very concerned at the potential closure of Ivor Newton House," commented John Smith, general secretary of the Musicians’ Union. "We understand that the MBF is due to make its decision in the next few days, and if it does decide on closure there will no longer be a residential home dedicated to retired musicians. The MU will concentrate on doing its utmost to support the current residents of Ivor Newton House whatever the decision. Most of the residents of are now in their nineties, and we would urge the MBF to respect their wishes and allow them to live out the rest of their lives in Ivor Newton House. We also sympathise with Unison members working at the home who are at risk of losing their jobs.”
Len Davis, resident of Ivor Newton House and long-standing MU member added: “I have lived in Ivor Newton House since 2004 and there is no way I want to move. Ivor Newton House is entirely fit for purpose as far as the residents and staff are concerned, and has always received acceptable reports from the authorities. I would be very angry if the MBF, as a charity, decided to forcibly evict people from their home at this stage of their lives.”
