Shropshire Council services back to normal following UNISON strike action

Shropshire Council say some services including customer service points, day centres, highway depots, leisure centres, libraries and Shirehall were disrupted due to the strike, but all are expected to run as normal today.

Members of the trade union UNISON were striking against a pay cut and working conditions after it was decided it was too late to call of industrial action following a meeting between the council and UNISON on Wednesday afternoon.

Around 300 people yesterday took part in a march from Abbey Foregate to Shirehall protesting over a 5.4% pay cut and changes to working conditions.

Outside Shirehall members of the union heard a speech from branch secretary Alan Jones, who said he was pleased with the results of Wednesday’s meeting with council leader Keith Barrow, and felt there was now a better understanding of the financial situation that Shropshire Council faced but also that Shropshire Council recognised the need for UNISON to represent its members.

Shropshire Council say changes being made to employee’s working terms and conditions were designed to avoid making 500 staff redundant. They affect 6,500 staff, and fewer than one in three of these are members of UNISON.

More than 1,600 Shropshire Council staff have currently accepted new terms and conditions to their employment.