Big walkout hits county
Council workers and civil servants in Shropshire today joined tens of thousands of others across the country for a 48-hour strike in a dispute over pay. Council workers and civil servants in Shropshire today joined tens of thousands of others across the country for a 48-hour strike in a dispute over pay. Picket lines were manned in the county, including Telford and Shrewsbury, from 6am in the biggest bout of industrial unrest for years. The walkout, by members of Unison and Unite unions, has led to the closure of schools, libraries, and civic offices across the country. Refuse collections have been cancelled in some areas and other services disrupted. The unions expected more than half a million workers - including teaching assistants, cleaners, care assistants, and social workers - to protest today and tomorrow over a below-inflation 2.45 per cent pay offer. Watch our video here See our photo gallery below and read the full story in today's Shropshire Star
Council workers and civil servants in Shropshire today joined tens of thousands of others across the country for a 48-hour strike in a dispute over pay.
Picket lines were manned in the county, including Telford and Shrewsbury, from 6am in the biggest bout of industrial unrest for years.
See our photo gallery below
The walkout, by members of Unison and Unite unions, has led to the closure of schools, libraries, and civic offices across the country.
Refuse collections have been cancelled in some areas and other services disrupted.
The unions expected more than half a million workers - including teaching assistants, cleaners, care assistants, and social workers - to protest today and tomorrow over a below-inflation 2.45 per cent pay offer.
In Shropshire 14 schools have been forced to close, along with several libraries, including Oswestry and Telford, and customer care points.
Shropshire County Council was forced to close all its day care facilities for people with disabilities, older people, people with mental health issues and people with physical disabilities, as well as its Shrewsbury headquarters to the public.
Bridgnorth's sports and leisure centre was also shut.
Picket lines were outside Telford & Wrekin Council's Civic Office, Darby House, the council's Granville Depot, the flagship Hadley Learning Community and The Mount in Wellington.
Jonathan Sedgebeer, Unison's Telford & Wrekin Council branch secretary, said: "We have balloted 2,200 members in the council. The support is absolutely fantastic."
Union members from Telford also travelled to Wolverhampton in the morning for a rally.
Sylke Lloyd, of Telford, who works in a kitchen at a town school, was picketing outside Telford & Wrekin Council civic offices.
"I think it's going alright because we need to draw attention to our bad pay and rising inflation," she said. "We do our best looking after schoolchildren but looking after our own children is becoming harder.
"We want a decent pay rise in line with inflation and a better standard of living."
Patricia Wilson, Unison's Shropshire branch secretary, said: "It is regrettable it has got to this, because we should have been offered a fair rise."
By Lisa Rowley
Strikers at Shirehall, Shrewsbury - back left to right, Unison members, Mary Linkie, Gill Gittins, Brian Clanfield and regional officer for Unison, Andrew Johnson. Middle left to right, branch secretary for Shropshire Unison, Patricia Wilson, Andrea Blease and assistant branch secretary for Unison, Andrew McLaughlin and, front, Carol Davies.
Back row from left, Lorraine Dove, Jackie Taylor, Tina Ashley and Ann Robey, on the picket lines at Darby House in Telford with, front, Sara Prentice as part of a national Unison strike.
Powys County Council workers picketing at Kirkhamsfield in Newtown this morning.
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Mary Linkie hands out some leaflets to council workers at the Shirehall in Shrewsbury.
Striking workers outside Malinslee House Civic Offices in Telford, as part of the Unison strike.
