Strike to hit bins, burials, schools

Burials and cremations will be hit, bins not emptied and housing offices will close when council staff take part in a two-day strike on Wednesday and Thursday.

The council has made services to vulnerable residents and communication with Oldham people its priority as it gears up for the industrial action in support of increased pay.

But parents will have to check with their children’s schools to find out if they will open, or will have services such as school meals or crossing patrols.

The council is still negotiating with local union leaders to minimise the effects on care services.

The council’s website (www.oldham.gov.uk) has details of which services will open or close and is being updated daily.

Households in Failsworth, Hollinwood and Chadderton, will have no bin collections on Wednesday and Thursday, but will be told in newspaper adverts, on the website or by calling the Contact Centre on 0161-770 3000 when their collections are rearranged. 

Day centres

Family centres will be closed and adult and community services care staff will tell their clients if there are alternative arrangements on strike days.

Day centres are also likely to close. The One Stop Shop at the Civic Centre, sports centres and the Lifelong Learning Service’s community centres will be open.

Local housing offices will close but the emergency housing repairs service on 0161-770 6699 will be open. The only housing office open will be the Housing Options Centre at Medtia Square for emergency homeless and other inquiries.

Social care emergencies for adult and older peoplehave a special number, 0161-770 6532.

Other services staying open are Bishop’s Park pitch and putt, the Castleshaw Centre, Radclyffe Athletic Centre, the Music Centre, youth centres, HMR offices in Derker and Werneth, the Honeywell Centre, and pupil services and school attendance services

Cemeteries

Services will be limited at Oldham Register Office and in the cemeteries and crematorium.
Royton and Shaw markets are closed, and at Tommyfield the Henshaw Street and Albion Street shops will be open but the remainder of the market will close.

There will be no bulky waste service.

It is still not known how environmental health, pest control, licensing, trading standards, planning or street cleaning services will be affected.

The main council union Unison will hold a rally outside the Queen Elizabeth Hall on Wednesday at 1.30 pm, supported by the National Union of Teachers, and there will be picket lines at the Civic Centre and other council offices.

Councillor Thompson added: “Whatever is the final impact of the strike on services, it will have come only after exhaustive negotiations with local union leaders, with whom the council has a healthy and positive relationship, have taken place.”