Now it’s summer of discontent

Date published: 09 July 2014


SCHOOLS and libraries across Oldham will be closed tomorrow as public-sector workers stage their biggest strike in years.

Members of Unison, GMB, Unite, the National Union of Teachers, the Public and Commercial Services Union and the Fire Brigade Union will walk out for the day to protest about low pay and salary freezes.

Some schools will completely close for the day while others will be open to certain year groups.

Parents are advised to check on the school’s website to see if their children can attend tomorrow.

There will be no bin collections tomorrow, affecting Coppice, Werneth and Hollinwood for grey, blue and green bins and Failsworth for brown and green bin collections. Extra waste will be picked up on the next collection date.

Access Oldham and the Contact Centre — which are both based at the Civic Centre — will open as usual as will parks and cemeteries, leisure centres, Lifelong Learning Centres and district town halls.

Children’s day-care centres Beaver, Spring Meadows and First Steps will be open as normal as will all children’s centres, with the exception of Stanley Road.

Social care services will be unaffected with the exception of Chadderton Park Wellbeing Centre, Ena Hughes Day Centre and Willow House Day Centre which will be closed.

Oldham Library will be open 9am-7pm but all other libraries will be closed. Gallery Oldham will also be shut.

A council spokesperson said: “Oldham Council is working hard to mitigate the impact of national industrial action tacking place on Thursday. Oldham Council respects an employee’s right to strike and is making every effort to minimise the impact on services to residents.

“Our focus is on ensuring the continuation of life-and-limb services, such as vital home and social-care visits.

“We will also keep residents informed about the potential impact of the strike through our social media on Twitter and Facebook.”

Visit www.oldham.gov.uk/strike to find out more.
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