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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Staff stage walkout amid pay row | Staff stage walkout amid pay row |
| (18 minutes later) | |
| A pay dispute walkout by hundreds of council workers in Falkirk has caused the closure of more than 30 services. | A pay dispute walkout by hundreds of council workers in Falkirk has caused the closure of more than 30 services. |
| Staff opted to embark on a day of industrial action amid a continuing dispute over new contracts brought forward under equal pay laws. | Staff opted to embark on a day of industrial action amid a continuing dispute over new contracts brought forward under equal pay laws. |
| The GMB Scotland union claimed the council had forced new contracts on several thousand employees. | The GMB Scotland union claimed the council had forced new contracts on several thousand employees. |
| However, the local authority said the offer was required to meet the legislation's requirements. | However, the local authority said the offer was required to meet the legislation's requirements. |
| The walkout, also involving members of Unison, has caused the closure of services including housing and social work offices, libraries, sports centres and community halls. | The walkout, also involving members of Unison, has caused the closure of services including housing and social work offices, libraries, sports centres and community halls. |
| New contracts | New contracts |
| The council warned that other facilities may be partially closed. | The council warned that other facilities may be partially closed. |
| Falkirk Council leader David Alexander raised concern that the authority had apparently been targeted by the unions for political purposes, despite the fact that it had agreed to all of the pay protections asked for. | |
| The local authority, which has added £2.5m a year to the wage budget to meet the costs, said many employees had accepted new contracts. | The local authority, which has added £2.5m a year to the wage budget to meet the costs, said many employees had accepted new contracts. |
| However, the council had to offer new contracts to employees who had not accepted them after it had "exhausted all other options". | However, the council had to offer new contracts to employees who had not accepted them after it had "exhausted all other options". |
| Services are expected to get back to normal on Tuesday. | Services are expected to get back to normal on Tuesday. |