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Council workers walk out over pay offer

16/07/2008

Council workers in Manchester have joined a two-day strike as part of a national pay dispute.

Some 98,000 council workers from across the north-west have walked out over a 2.45 per cent pay rise offer. Trade unions Unison and Unite want a six per cent pay rise or an extra 50p an hour.

Manchester city council has said that everything possible has been done to minimise disruption, although some services will inevitably be reduced or even unavailable.

The town hall will be closed to the public during the industrial action and the strike will impact on schools, bin collections, libraries and social services.

A spokesperson for the city council stated: "We have worked with our staff and with trade unions to ensure that essential services are delivered during the industrial action."

Dave Prentis, general secretary of Unison, said that 2.45 per cent effectively means another pay cut, which local government workers "cannot afford to take".