Schools closed in council strike

Unison General Secretary Dave Prentis joined a rally of strikers in Wakefield

A two-day strike by council workers in a dispute over pay has shut down many schools in West Yorkshire and caused disruption to services.

Local authorities said the walkout by Unison members had also hit bin collections, libraries, leisure centres and markets.

More than 180 schools are closed or partially closed with many of those in the Wakefield and Kirklees area.

Staff walked out after rejecting a national 2.45% pay offer.

Kirklees Council has apologised after revealing that payments to almost 4,000 tenants who receive housing benefit would be delayed as a result of the strike action.

Emergency calls

Councillor Andrew Palfreeman said: "Housing benefit payments would usually be prepared on Wednesday, but unfortunately the national strike action means we do not have enough staff time to be able to undertake this week's work.

"Those tenants and landlords expecting a payment next Monday 21 July will not now receive their payment until later that week."

Bradford City Council said some of its major buildings were closed including town halls in Keighley, Bingley, Shipley and Ilkley.

Leeds City Council said it was only be accepting emergency calls during the 48-hour stoppage.

Many recycling centres were closed as well as Leeds Central Library and a number of one-stop centres.

In Wakefield, the council said more than 10 libraries were closed or opening on reduced hours during the strike as well as seven museums, a number of markets and leisure facilities.

A Wakefield Council spokesperson said the majority of council services would be back to normal on Friday.

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