Strike action affects Shropshire schools and public services
A day of national industrial action across the public sector is today taking place.
Teachers, firefighters, health workers, council staff and civil servants will join up with around 1.5 million colleagues nationwide in a 24-hour walk-out in a protest over pay, pensions and work conditions.
The strike action will see the closure of courts, job centres, benefit offices, tax and revenue offices and driving test centres.
A number of schools in Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin are affected by the strike action:
- Schools affected Telford & Wrekin
- Schools affected in Shropshire
GMB, Unite, UNISON and the Public and Commercial Services Union are protesting over pay rates.
A pay freeze was imposed in 2010 for three years followed by a 1% increase last year and the same offer this year.
They say that represents an 18% fall in pay in real terms, back to the level of the 1990s.
The Fire Brigade Union is protesting at changes to firefighters’ pensions and a later retirement age.
Telford & Wrekin Council leader Kuldip Sahota said:
“The administration fully respects employees’ right to take lawful industrial action.
“Although some areas maybe effected, we are working closely with the trade unions to ensure that the most vulnerable are protected.
“If any services are affected, we will post this information on the Council’s website and social media channels as soon as we receive it."
To help keep people up to date of any services that are affected, Telford & Wrekin Council is posting information to www.telford.gov.uk/nationalstrike as well as its Facebook and Twitter pages.
For Shropshire Council information regarding strike action see http://shropshire.gov.uk/strike-action-10-july-2014/.
