This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/7508717.stm
The article has changed 24 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 17 | Version 18 |
|---|---|
| Council workers walk out over pay | Council workers walk out over pay |
| (10 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Town hall services | |
| The Local Government Association (LGA), the organisation representing local councils, said it estimated that half of union members directly affected by the pay dispute were on strike. The pounds in local government workers' pockets are turning to pennies Dave PrentisUnison Is your council hit by the strike?Send us your commentsIn pictures: Workers on strike | |
| The LGA said a snapshot survey of councils showed north-east and north-west England were suffering the greatest disruption to services. | The LGA said a snapshot survey of councils showed north-east and north-west England were suffering the greatest disruption to services. |
Services affected across England, Wales and Northern Ireland include:
| Services affected across England, Wales and Northern Ireland include:
|
| Hundreds of workers have also taken part in protest marches in cities including Brighton, Bristol, Cardiff and Newcastle. | Hundreds of workers have also taken part in protest marches in cities including Brighton, Bristol, Cardiff and Newcastle. |
| Workers in Scotland are not on strike, but the Scottish secretary of Unison, Matt Smith, said a walkout was planned unless councils agreed to renegotiate their pay offer. | Workers in Scotland are not on strike, but the Scottish secretary of Unison, Matt Smith, said a walkout was planned unless councils agreed to renegotiate their pay offer. |
| BBC News employment correspondent Martin Shankleman said the strikes were the biggest challenge yet to the government's tough line on public sector pay. | BBC News employment correspondent Martin Shankleman said the strikes were the biggest challenge yet to the government's tough line on public sector pay. |
| 'Breadline' AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARIES Road sweeper: £14,430Teaching assistant: £15,530Care worker: £17,088Sports coach: £21,411Librarian: £22,388Building control officer: £29,840 *LGA figures for England and Wales | |
| Average basic salaries in councils in England and Wales vary greatly. Figures from the LGA show a cleaner earns £12,732 a year, a refuse collector £15,685, and a planning officer £27,561. | Average basic salaries in councils in England and Wales vary greatly. Figures from the LGA show a cleaner earns £12,732 a year, a refuse collector £15,685, and a planning officer £27,561. |
| Unison general secretary Dave Prentis said more than 250,000 of its members earned less than the basic rate of £6 per hour. | Unison general secretary Dave Prentis said more than 250,000 of its members earned less than the basic rate of £6 per hour. |
| "The pounds in local government workers' pockets are turning to pennies," he 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." |
| 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%. |
| Service cuts | Service cuts |
| 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.Disgruntled council workers marched through Bristol city centre | 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.Disgruntled council workers marched through Bristol city centre |
| 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. |
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? |
| Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to +44 7725 100 100 or you have a large file you can upload here. Read the terms and conditions | Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to +44 7725 100 100 or you have a large file you can upload here. Read the terms and conditions |
| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |