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Council workers walk out over pay Council workers walk out over pay
(41 minutes later)
Thousands of council staff are striking over pay in their biggest campaign of industrial unrest for years, forcing schools to close and hitting services.Thousands of council staff are striking over pay in their biggest campaign of industrial unrest for years, forcing schools to close and hitting services.
The Unison and Unite unions expect 600,000 workers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to join the 48-hour action, which began at midnight. Employers say 300,000 Unison and Unite members in England, Wales and N Ireland have joined the 48-hour action but the unions put the figure at 500,000.
Unions say the rising cost of food and petrol effectively makes a 2.45% pay offer a pay cut, and they want 6%.Unions say the rising cost of food and petrol effectively makes a 2.45% pay offer a pay cut, and they want 6%.
Council employers say they have reached the "limit of what is affordable".Council employers say they have reached the "limit of what is affordable".
Meanwhile, members of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), who include driving test examiners and coastguard control room staff, are also striking in a separate row over their below-inflation pay offer.Meanwhile, members of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), who include driving test examiners and coastguard control room staff, are also striking in a separate row over their below-inflation pay offer.
The union estimates up to 5,000 driving tests across the UK may have been cancelled by the end of Wednesday.The union estimates up to 5,000 driving tests across the UK may have been cancelled by the end of Wednesday.
'Breadline''Breadline'
The council workers strike has closed libraries and museums and disrupted rubbish collections and other town hall services. The Local Government Association (LGA), the organisation representing local councils, said its figures suggested 300,000 council workers were on strike - half of the union members directly affected by the pay dispute.
Services affected across England, Wales and Northern Ireland include:
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  • One in three schools in Wales closed
  • A third of all households in Southampton will not have their rubbish collected this week
  • Flights cancelled at Northern Ireland's council-run City of Derry Airport
  • Graduation ceremony at Swansea University is being held in a marquee because of the strike
  • Torpoint to Plymouth ferry service cancelled
 The LGA said a snapshot survey of councils showed north-east and north-west England were suffering the greatest disruption to services.
BBC News employment correspondent Martin Shankleman said the strikes were the biggest challenge yet to the government's tough line on public sector pay. The strike has closed libraries and museums and disrupted rubbish collections and other town hall services.
Employers had been hoping union members would ignore the strike calls but unions predicted significant support. Services affected across England, Wales and Northern Ireland include:
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  • One in three schools in Wales closed
  • A third of all households in Southampton will not have their rubbish collected this week
  • Flights cancelled at Northern Ireland's council-run City of Derry Airport
  • Graduation ceremony at Swansea University is being held in a marquee instead of the main building because of the strike
  • Torpoint to Plymouth ferry service cancelled
However, the Local Government Association (LGA) said a survey of councils suggested fewer than a quarter of staff would take part. The pounds in local government workers' pockets are turning to pennies Dave PrentisUnison Is your council hit by the strike?Send us your comments BBC News employment correspondent Martin Shankleman said the strikes were the biggest challenge yet to the government's tough line on public sector pay. The pounds in local government workers' pockets are turning to pennies Dave PrentisUnison Is your council hit by the strike?Send us your comments
The strike action by the Unison and Unite unions comes after members rejected their below-inflation pay offer of 2.45%. The unions are asking for a rise of 6%, or 50p an hour. The strike action by Unison and Unite comes after members rejected their below-inflation pay offer of 2.45%. The unions are asking for a rise of 6%, or 50p an hour.
The RPI inflation measure - often used as a benchmark in pay negotiations - is currently 4.6%.The RPI inflation measure - often used as a benchmark in pay negotiations - is currently 4.6%.
Unison general secretary Dave Prentis said: "The pounds in local government workers' pockets are turning to pennies," he said.Unison general secretary Dave Prentis said: "The pounds in local government workers' pockets are turning to pennies," he said.
"The cost of everyday essentials like milk, bread, petrol, gas and electricity are going through the roof - our members cannot afford to take another cut in their pay.""The cost of everyday essentials like milk, bread, petrol, gas and electricity are going through the roof - our members cannot afford to take another cut in their pay."
Unite national officer Peter Allenson said its members were "living on the breadline".Unite national officer Peter Allenson said its members were "living on the breadline".
But one council worker in south-east England, who broke the picket line and did not want to be named, said the pay offer was good in the "current economic climate".But one council worker in south-east England, who broke the picket line and did not want to be named, said the pay offer was good in the "current economic climate".
"In local government we are guaranteed a pay rise every year and over the last 10 years, it has varied between 2.5% and 3% - people in the private sector don't get anywhere near that.""In local government we are guaranteed a pay rise every year and over the last 10 years, it has varied between 2.5% and 3% - people in the private sector don't get anywhere near that."
'Difficult decisions''Difficult decisions'
Jan Parkinson, managing director of Local Government Employers (LGE), which was created by the LGA in 2006, said: "Our greatest asset is our staff but we have simply reached the limit of what is affordable.Jan Parkinson, managing director of Local Government Employers (LGE), which was created by the LGA in 2006, said: "Our greatest asset is our staff but we have simply reached the limit of what is affordable.
"We remain willing to talk to the unions on a constructive basis about the future employment conditions of our workforce but this week's strikes will not change the fact that our last offer was our final offer.""We remain willing to talk to the unions on a constructive basis about the future employment conditions of our workforce but this week's strikes will not change the fact that our last offer was our final offer."
John Ransford, LGA deputy chief executive, said councils would have to put up council tax or cut services in order to meet the pay demand.Refuse collectors have gone on strike in SouthamptonJohn Ransford, LGA deputy chief executive, said councils would have to put up council tax or cut services in order to meet the pay demand.Refuse collectors have gone on strike in Southampton
Unison's Mr Prentis said efficiency savings in the past few years meant local authorities had £3 billion of unallocated reserves and there was "no reason" why some of that should not be used on pay.Unison's Mr Prentis said efficiency savings in the past few years meant local authorities had £3 billion of unallocated reserves and there was "no reason" why some of that should not be used on pay.
But Mr Ransford said the money was being held as a contingency reserve and it would be "crazy economics" to use it for pay.But Mr Ransford said the money was being held as a contingency reserve and it would be "crazy economics" to use it for pay.
In the PCS union dispute, more than 1,500 members working for the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) across the UK are taking take part in a one-day strike over pay.In the PCS union dispute, more than 1,500 members working for the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) across the UK are taking take part in a one-day strike over pay.
And about 2,500 Valuation Office Agency staff in England and Wales are working to rule on Wednesday and Thursday.And about 2,500 Valuation Office Agency staff in England and Wales are working to rule on Wednesday and Thursday.
On Friday, about 10,000 Home Office staff, including immigration officers, are expected to go on strike, while about 5,500 Land Registry workers in England and Wales only are due to walk out on Friday afternoon.On Friday, about 10,000 Home Office staff, including immigration officers, are expected to go on strike, while about 5,500 Land Registry workers in England and Wales only are due to walk out on Friday afternoon.
Coastguard control room staff around the UK are set to strike for 48 hours from Friday.Coastguard control room staff around the UK are set to strike for 48 hours from Friday.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown sees its policy on public pay as essential in the fight against inflation.Prime Minister Gordon Brown sees its policy on public pay as essential in the fight against inflation.
Mr Brown's spokesman said: "We have had to make some difficult decisions over the last year or two in relation to a wide range of public sector workers in order keep inflation lower than it might otherwise have been."Mr Brown's spokesman said: "We have had to make some difficult decisions over the last year or two in relation to a wide range of public sector workers in order keep inflation lower than it might otherwise have been."
Have you been affected by the strike? Are you taking part in the protest? Where in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are you picketing?
/>Have you been affected by the strike? Are you taking part in the protest? Where in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are you picketing?
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