Council workers strike over pay

Librarians and social workers are among those on strike in Manchester

Council workers in Greater Manchester have joined a two-day national strike in a protest over pay.

A total of 98,000 council workers from across the north-west of England are staging a walk out on Wednesday and Thursday over a 2.45% pay rise offer.

Members of the trade unions Unison and Unite rejected the offer, demanding a 6% pay rise or 50p an hour extra.

The strike will impact on schools and services such as libraries, social services and bin collections.

One of the biggest pickets will be outside the Manchester Town Hall complex in Albert Square.

We are asking for 50p an hour - that's all - and that's not even the price of a loaf of bread Val Cane, dinner lady

Talking from the picket line, dinner lady Val Cane told the BBC that a 2.5% rise was "simply not enough".

"We are low paid workers, we need to be able to pay for the food on our tables," said Mrs Cane.

"We are asking for 50p an hour - that's all - and that's not even the price of a loaf of bread.

"Everybody has sympathy for teaching staff, everybody has sympathy for nurses and doctors, but when it comes to local government workers we are never ever treated fairly.

"We asked for 6% and were offered 2.5%. It's not even half way. It's totally unfair."

Fire service support staff who work in various departments at Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service will be picketing outside the Swinton headquarters, workshops and supplies depot at Leigh.

Severe disruption

Refuse, street cleansing, works and grounds maintenance staff will be out on strike across the region - with closures at several council depots including Tameside, Warrington, Bolton, Oldham and Rochdale.

There will also be pickets at the main entrance to Bury Town Hall, at the housing benefit and council tax office in Radcliffe and at the bin depot.

The industrial action will cause severe disruption at Bury Market as porters and cleaners out on strike will result in rubbish piling up and toilets not being cleaned.

Refuse collections are not affected in Trafford, but the borough's crematorium and burial services are not operating.

Unison's North West regional secretary Frank Hont claimed the industrial action was a reflection of how angry members feel.

Unison's North West regional secretary Frank Hont claimed the industrial action was a reflection of how angry members feel.

He said: "Councils in England had to make �3 billion in efficiency savings by 2007/08 - they made more than double that.

"These savings have been made possible thanks to the hard work and commitment of our members, yet bosses are telling them they can't afford to improve the current offer on the table."

Councils are advising the public to visit their websites to find out how the strike will directly affect services.

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