Strike solidarity

Local Authority council workers’ srike, Moorhey St reetDepot

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A QUARTER of Oldham’s schools were closed this morning as the two-day council workers strike began to bite.

Pickets were out across the borough, targeting schools, bin collections, housing offices, libraries, an old people’s day centre and the social services helpline.

The action has been called by the major local government union, Unison, which has 4,000 members in Oldham.

It has been joined by Unite, formerly the Transport and General Workers’ Union, whose members have rejected a 2.5 per cent pay offer.

Pickets were outside the Moorhey Street depot from 6am, bringing bin collections and recycling to a halt for people in Chadderton and Failsworth.

They also lined up outside Oldham Civic Centre, and the Whitney Court Helpline offices from 7am.

Pickets were outside at St Augustine’s RC, South Chadderton, and Radcliffe schools.

Although teachers are not taking part, schools without caretakers, cleaners, kitchen and clerical staff may have to close, or send some pupils home.

Around 100 refuse workers — 80 percent of the work force at the Moorhey Street depot — will be manning the picket line today.

Unite convenor Paul Dale said: “With inflation running at 4.9 per cent (the Government’s figure is 3.8 per cent), some of our members are in financial difficulty.

“The Government says there is no money in the pot, but the amount of extra cash MPs will get with their 2.4 per cent increase is probably the equivalent of an entire year’s wages for our members of staff.”

Driver Ian Morville said: “The average wage in this country is about £26,000 and we are on about £9,000 less than that.

“When I was young loads of people wanted to go into this kind of work, but it’s not the case anymore. It’s really hard graft and we go out in all weathers.

“I would invite anyone who thinks we have an easy job to come out and join us on the rounds for a day.”

Unison’s Oldham branch secretary, Ann Mitchell, speaking as she toured picket lines this morning, said: “We always regret taking strike action, but we have been forced into this position as a last resort because of the refusal of employers to come back to the negotiating table.”

The union said basic pay rates for almost 250,000 staff nationally are less then £6.50 an hour.

Cabinet member for finance and human resources, Councillor Lynne Thompson, said: “We will only have a clearer picture of the situation after mid-morning in terms of who decides to turn in for work and who doesn’t.

“I am urging residents to check the council’s website — www.oldham.gov.uk — for updated information.”