Council steeled for two-day strike

SCHOOLS could shut and bins remain unemptied when council workers take part in a two-day strike this month.

Plans are being put in place to protect Oldham’s elderly and vulnerable on Wednesday and Thursday, July 16 and 17, if local authority staff support a national walk-out for higher pay.

Talks were held yesterday between unions and Oldham Council to protect so-called life and limb cases. They were also to decide who will be exempt from strike action to continue caring roles.

Binmen are also believed to be backing the action, after unions turned down a 2.45 per cent pay offer.

Unison has 4,000 members in Oldham. However, only 27 per cent of members voted for the strike nationally, with a 55 per cent majority.

Branch secretary Ann Mitchell said: “Major services will be affected as our members draw attention to this very low pay offer.

“Exemptions are being discussed, and the siting of pickets will be worked out over the next week or so.”

But one union is not taking part. The GMB is opposed to the pay offer, but despite that its 600 Oldham Council members will turn up for work.

They are waiting to see how the council’s job evaluation process, which aligns blue and white-collar pay in one system, is calculated.

Convenor Jim McDermott said: “If there are picket lines I don’t think our members will cross them. But we are not striking because we feel that a bigger battle will come with the job-evaluation. If it is like other authorities, people will lose a lot of money.”

Cabinet member for adult and health services, Councillor Brian Lord, said: “We have contingency plans so that we do what we can for the most vulnerable.

“However, we have had no confirmation yet that Oldham staff will be taking part in this strike.”

Cabinet member for human resources, Councillor Lynne Thompson, said: “This is a national dispute. We have an excellent relationship with our unions and we are confident that it will stay that way.

“We are working hard to draw up plans to avoid as much disruption as possible and to inform the public and staff alike what services will be provided on the day, and which will not.”

Assistant director for human resources, Robert Cragg, said: “We will be asking staff to tell us whether or not they will be striking.

“Once we have a clearer picture, we can finalise our contingency plans.”

The council will be running newspaper advertisements outlining arrangements to cover the strike days, including details of which operations and services will be open and closed.

Notices will be placed in council offices and public buildings about the arrangements, which will be on the council website — www.oldham.gov.uk