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Two-day strike hits services

Chris Jones
17/ 7/2008

SCHOOLS, libraries and leisure facilities in Middleton and north Manchester are set to close for a second day as town hall workers continue to strike over pay.

A two-day walk out by local government workers is expected to see swimming pools, libraries and some schools in the town shut again today (Thursday) as hundreds of workers man picket-lines.

The nationwide strike, which affects workers such as school support staff, dinner ladies and bin men, comes after the Unite and Unison unions voted for a two-day strike after rejecting the government's offer of a 2.4 per cent pay increase.

As well as the closure of schools and cultural and leisure facilities, residents are also being warned to brace themselves for major disruption to refuse collections just weeks after the introduction of the fortnightly bin rotas.

Refuse collections in Middleton disrupted by the strike will now take place on Saturday (19 July), with recycling services resuming on Friday (18 July).

In Blackley, recycling collections will go ahead as normal, with affected refuse collections moved to the weekend.

Rochdale Council said it was trying to reduce the affect of the strikes, and would be prioritising maintaining vital services to vulnerable people.

The council’s chief executive Roger Ellis said: "We are working hard to minimise disruption during the strike and where services are likely to be affected we have taken appropriate steps to keep people informed."

Eighteen schools across the Rochdale borough will continue to be closed or partially closed today, including St Peter's RC Primary in Alkrington.

Other schools will continue to open, although parents are being asked to contact schools directly to find out if they will be affected.

All Rochdale Council service centres and libraries will be closed again today, along with Middleton swimming pool.

However Furrow Sports Complex, Middleton Civic and Middleton Leisure Centre will be open as usual.

Blackley residents using facilities run by Manchester City Council today are being advised to check with them first before setting off.

Rochdale Boroughwide (RBH) Housing, which manages thousands of council homes in Middleton, is also warning residents to continue to expect disruption to services today.

A spokesperson for RBH said: "RBH is seeking to ensure that essential services including emergency repairs for all tenants and a mobile warden service to vulnerable elderly tenants are maintained."

RBH offices are expected to be closed again today, and tenants in need of urgent repairs are being advised to contact the Repairs Call Centre on 0845 076 3636.

While major disruption is expected to continue to the majority of the 800 council-run services, a spokesperson for Rochdale Council confirmed services for vulnerable people are expected to continue as usual.

The emergency number for these services is 0845 121 2975.

For the latest information on services affected by the strikes, residents are being urged to call the contact centre which will continue to be open, or to log on to www.rochdale.gov.uk

SEVEN Blackley primary schools will be closed or part closed today (Thursday).

Camberwell Park School, Victoria Avenue Community Primary School, Bowker Vale Primary School, Mount Carmel RC Primary School and St John Bosco's RC Primary School are all closed, while St Clare's RC Primary School and Holy Trinity CE Primary School are only partly open.

Crab Lane Primary School, Crosslee Community Primary School and Pike Fold Primary School are all set to be open as normal.

Our Ladies RC Sports college and Plant Hill High were expected to be open also.