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Thousands strike in pay band row Thousands strike in pay band row
(about 3 hours later)
More than 80 schools in Birmingham have closed as thousands of council workers stage a 24-hour strike. More than 120 schools in Birmingham have closed as thousands of council workers stage a 24-hour strike.
The walkout, which follows the failure of last-ditch talks, is expected to cause widespread disruption and affect all council services. Up to 20,000 staff voted to strike over plans to restructure pay bands. Unions have claimed they were not consulted.
Up to 20,000 city council workers voted to strike over plans to restructure staff pay bands with unions claiming they were not consulted. The walkout has also forced the closure of about 20 libraries and around 10 leisure centres and there have been no bin collections.
Birmingham City Council said it was legally obliged to review its services. Residential homes and care services have not been affected, Birmingham City Council said.
Many of the issues they've raised we believe that we can come to a resolution on Council chief executive Stephen Hughes 'Faceless people'
The council claims 45% of the workers will get a "considerable increase". The council, the biggest unitary authority in the UK, said it was legally obliged to review services.
But the unions said some council staff could lose up to £18,000 a year each under the plans. It claims 45% of the workers will get a "considerable increase".
They have said they will not back down on the issue and there is a possibility of further strikes. But the unions said some council workers could lose up to £18,000 a year each under the plans.
'Non-critical services' They have said there is a possibility of further strikes.
There are about 450 schools in the city. Workers including cooks, cleaners and teaching assistants are on strike, forcing the closure of more than 120 of the city's 450 schools.
Workers including cooks, cleaners and teaching assistants are on strike, forcing some closures. Pickets were being held at council premises across the city
The council's chief executive, Stephen Hughes, said: "Many of the issues they've raised we believe that we can come to a resolution on. Demonstrators said they had organised several hundred picket lines across the city, including schools, social services premises and libraries.
"So we very much regret the fact that they've decided to go ahead and take industrial action anyway." A woman, who was one of about 30 on a picket line at Lancaster Circus on Tuesday morning, is set to lose about £11,000 of her salary.
In an earlier statement, the council said "regrettably" it has had to suspend "a number of non-critical services". The worker, who has been with the council for 41 years, does administration and said: "I think that's part of the problem - that I am one of the faceless people, people behind the scenes."
But it has told people to put rubbish out as some will be collected. Joining the picket line outside Birmingham Town Hall were Trevolin Newell, Pauline Gordon, and Evelyn Joesbury, who all work at Viscount House children's home at Castle Vale.
'Deserve better' Miss Newell, 52, a cook, has worked for the council for 19 years.
The council is the biggest unitary authority in the UK and efforts will be made to keep as many services and buildings open as possible, a spokesman has said. Mrs Gordon, 53, and Mrs Joesbury, 59, who work as domestics at the home, have worked for the authority for 26 years and 29 years respectively.
Chief negotiator
All three women said they were unhappy with the new pay bands, which put them on the lowest grade possible.
Miss Newell said: "I have always been angry about our wages because we have been at the bottom of the pile, but we have never gone this far before."
Demonstrators outside Birmingham Town Hall held placards saying "Rudge won't budge on equal pay" and "we have got a grudge against Rudge".
The placards referred to councillor Alan Rudge, cabinet member for equality and human resources, who has been a chief negotiator in the new contracts.
Workers were joined by union representatives for the strike
The council's chief executive, Stephen Hughes, apologised for the inconvenience, but said the offer was "very generous" and described the strike as "entirely unnecessary".
He said: "Many of the issues they've raised we believe that we can come to a resolution on.
"So we very much regret the fact that they've decided to go ahead and take industrial action anyway.
"The agreement we came to (with) the refuse collectors and street cleaners last week was an indication of the way in which we're willing to be flexible.
"We are going to concentrate on ensuring that all essential services are maintained and do whatever we can to recover later in the week from any backlogs that occur."
The council has told people to still put rubbish out as it would try to clear the backlog in the next couple of days.
Steve Akers, regional officer for Unison, said: "The council has a choice - they are standing on the precipice.
"If they make the choice to impose, then they are saying to the people of Birmingham and their own workforce that they choose to be in conflict with them."
Members of Unison, Unite, the GMB and the construction workers union Ucatt are taking part in the strike.Members of Unison, Unite, the GMB and the construction workers union Ucatt are taking part in the strike.
More than 80 people had been on one picket line in Kings Norton since about 0600 GMT. The council listed the expected closures on its website.
Unison West Midlands regional secretary Valerie Broom said: "Our members deserve better treatment and the people of Birmingham deserve better quality services."
The city council listed the schools expected to be affected on its website.
Other services which were set to be affected included:
  • Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery
  • More than 20 libraries closed
  • About 10 leisure centres shut
  • Reduced care services