Council staff prepared to stage new strike

COUNCIL workers returned to work today, promising further industrial action if their grievances are not met.

Around a quarter of Oldham Council’s 10,000 strong work force had taken part in a two-day strike which ended yesterday.

Unite and Unison members are refusing to accept a below-inflation pay offer and put picket lines across the borough, with particularly strong support among staff at the Link Centre, Union Street, and the Moorhey Street refuse depot.

The council said that some staff returned to work on the second strike day and that its main priority in the aftermath of the action was to get waste collections back on track.

Wendy Bradbury, Oldham’s Unison branch chairman, said: “The mood among the pickets was optimistic and our members showed great solidarity. Staff outside the Link Centre received tremendous support from the passing motorists, and that really served to lift their spirits.

“The turn-out was roughly in line with what we were expecting.

“There was a real fighting spirit among the staff and all the people that I spoke to and they said they were prepared to continue to battle for fair wages and would strike again if they had to.”