Thursday July 17, 09:18 AM
More Council Workers On Strike
By Sky News
Council workers are staging a second day of a 48-hour walk-out in a battle over pay which is again closing schools, libraries and leisure centres and crippling refuse collections and other local authority services. Unison and Unite say more than
half a million workers will be striking across England, Wales and Northern Ireland and warn that further industrial action could be held unless a 2.45% offer is increased.
The Local Government Association insist the offer is final and say any further increase would lead to a rise in council taxes or a cut in services.
The two sides clashed over how many workers supported the first day's stoppage, with employers maintaining only 100,000 had taken action, representing 8% of the total workforce.
Jan Parkinson, a spokesman for the employers, said: "These strikes will not change the fact that our last offer was our final offer.
"The settlement on the table is affordable to the council tax payer and will also make sure local government continues to be an attractive place to work."
Peter Allenson, national officer of Unite said the threat of further strikes was "very real" adding: "Judging by the tremendous turn-out on picket lines across the country, this is a fight that these workers will take all the way."
Rallies and marches are being held across the country.
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