Council workers man the picket lines in pay strike

Published on Wednesday 16 July 2008 10:24

COUNCIL workers mounted picket lines outside schools, libraries, museums, sports centres and refuse collection depots today as they launched a 48-hour strike in a bitter dispute over pay.

Unison and Unite said they expected more than half a million workers to join the stoppage today and Thursday, in protest at a rejected 2.45 per cent pay offer.

Unison general secretary Dave Prentis said the action would be one of the biggest since the General Strike of 1926.

He said: "Local government employers are sitting on 3 billion worth of efficiency savings they could use to settle the strike now."

Meanwhile, the Public and Commercial Services union warned up to 5000 driving tests could be cancelled by the end of today because of a strike by more than of its 1500 members working for the Driving Standards Agency.

Following on from today and tomorrow's industrial action by driving test examiners, Friday will see PCS members in the Home Office stage a one-day strike and staff in the Land Registry walking out for two hours.

Friday will also see coastguards start a 48-hour stoppage in protest at a below-inflation pay deal.