STRIKE action by local government workers began today as councils cut services and schools closed.
More than 750 Unite and Unison members are expected to join the 48-hour walkout at Borough of Poole. And in Bournemouth 1,600 out of 7,000 staff are union members and could strike - although the exact figures likely to do so are not known.
Teaching assistants, social workers, librarians, office staff and manual workers are among the thousands of union members who voted to take action over a below inflation 2.45 per cent pay offer.
Fourteen schools will close in Bournemouth and 10 will be affected in Poole. Just two will close in the rest of the county.
All libraries in Bournemouth will shut as will Parkstone and Christchurch libraries. Blandford Library, Corfe Mullen Library and Upton Library will also close for at least one of the two days.
Rossmore Children's Centre and the Ted Webster Children's Centre, Parkstone, will not be open to the public and adult social services and children's social care will be cut to an emergency service.
Bin collections in Bournemouth are not likely to be affected but they may be disrupted in Poole. Both councils are asking that bins be put out as normal - if they are not collected they will be picked up on the next collection date, when additional waste will be accepted.
The Household Waste Recycling Centre at Nuffield is also likely to be closed today.
Dorset County Council, New Forest, and East Dorset Council have contingency plans in place and few Unison members.
Coastguards are also poised to take industrial action. A strike, called by the Public and Commercial Services Union will affect coastguard stations this weekend, from July 18-20.
Schools closed
Bournemouth:
Bethany Primary
Elmrise Primary
Heathlands Primary
Kings Park Primary
Kingsleigh Primary
Muscliff Primary
Pokesdown open mornings but
closing at 12.15pm both days.
Avonbourne School
Glenmoor School
Kings High School
Portchester School
Queen's Park Junior
St Clement's and St John's
The Bicknell School
Poole:
Carter Community Sports College (Years 8 and 9 only closed)
Heatherlands First School
Longspee Special School
Manorside Combined School
Rossmore Community College
St Joseph's RC VA Combined School (5/6p, 6c, 7a and 7b open AM only)
St Mary's Catholic Combined School
Sylvan First School
Turlin Moor Community Middle School
Turlin Moor First School (closed today only)
Dorset:
Brackenbury First school, Portland - closed for foundation classes,morning only attendance for key stage one
St Mary's School, Beaminster - likely to be closed both days
7:00pm Tuesday 15th July 2008
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CommentPosted by: dibbles, Bournemouth on 12:01pm Wed 16 Jul 08
I cant help but think that this type of action sets a very bad example to our children. My kids think its great to have the two days off.
I cant help but think that this type of action sets a very bad example to our children. My kids think its great to have the two days off.
Posted by: BournPosh, Bournemouth on 12:07pm Wed 16 Jul 08
I'm 100% behind them, why should they accept a pittance of a pay rise?
I'm 100% behind them, why should they accept a pittance of a pay rise?
Posted by: ALL SEEING EYE, WESSEX on 1:00pm Wed 16 Jul 08
[bold]It just goes to show how important support staff are if schools have to close when they withdraw their labour.[/bold]
It just goes to show how important support staff are if schools have to close when they withdraw their labour. Posted by: ALL SEEING EYE, WESSEX on 1:01pm Wed 16 Jul 08
[bold]It just goes to show how important support staff are if schools have to close when they withdraw their labour.[/bold]
It just goes to show how important support staff are if schools have to close when they withdraw their labour. Posted by: Rogman, Boscombe East on 1:51pm Wed 16 Jul 08
[quote][bold]BournPosh[/bold] wrote:
I'm 100% behind them, why should they accept a pittance of a pay rise? [/quote] It's a darn sight more than I got! In fact, I have nt had a rise of more than 2%for over 9 years!
BournPosh wrote:
I'm 100% behind them, why should they accept a pittance of a pay rise?
It's a darn sight more than I got! In fact, I have nt had a rise of more than 2%for over 9 years!
Posted by: ALL SEEING EYE, WESSEX on 2:31pm Wed 16 Jul 08
[quote][bold]Rogman[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]BournPosh[/bold] wrote: I'm 100% behind them, why should they accept a pittance of a pay rise? [/quote] It's a darn sight more than I got! In fact, I have nt had a rise of more than 2%for over 9 years![/quote] Perhaps you're not worth more than 2% - the support staff are!
Rogman wrote:
BournPosh wrote: I'm 100% behind them, why should they accept a pittance of a pay rise?
It's a darn sight more than I got! In fact, I have nt had a rise of more than 2%for over 9 years!
Perhaps you're not worth more than 2% - the support staff are!
Posted by: Christopher, Wallisdown & Winton West on 5:15pm Wed 16 Jul 08
The point it, as pointed out on national and local news, whether you support or not support. Is the money there to support the rises, or as some councils have said, we will give the payrise, but it will mean cutting services and raising the Council Tax.
I personally do not want either of the latter. And would it be worth it, if the strikers got their pay in one hand and had it taken from the other because of said rises.
The country is in turmoil at the moment, caused by who every you want to think, or by what ever you want to think. Does it really help at this time to had more turmoil to an already bad situation.
We all want payrises, but if the money is not there, then it cannot be given.
The point it, as pointed out on national and local news, whether you support or not support. Is the money there to support the rises, or as some councils have said, we will give the payrise, but it will mean cutting services and raising the Council Tax.
I personally do not want either of the latter. And would it be worth it, if the strikers got their pay in one hand and had it taken from the other because of said rises.
The country is in turmoil at the moment, caused by who every you want to think, or by what ever you want to think. Does it really help at this time to had more turmoil to an already bad situation.
We all want payrises, but if the money is not there, then it cannot be given.
Posted by: chatterbox, North Dorset on 7:30pm Wed 16 Jul 08
"North Dorset District Council officials have said there will be no impact from strike action as union members who work for the council have decided not to take part in the strike. "
I work in North Dorset and I came out on strike and so did some of my colleagues! So North Dorset may not be as sleepy as they make out.
"North Dorset District Council officials have said there will be no impact from strike action as union members who work for the council have decided not to take part in the strike. "
I work in North Dorset and I came out on strike and so did some of my colleagues! So North Dorset may not be as sleepy as they make out.
Posted by: Nighthawk, Bournemouth on 7:33pm Wed 16 Jul 08
[quote][bold]Rogman[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]BournPosh[/bold] wrote:
I'm 100% behind them, why should they accept a pittance of a pay rise? [/quote] It's a darn sight more than I got! In fact, I have nt had a rise of more than 2%for over 9 years![/quote] Why are you "taking it lying down then" (so to speak)......If you feel strongly enough to respond to BournPosh , (who, incidentally) I totally agree with, that your pay rise is also very poor......BE PRO- ACTIVE AND DO SOMETHING POSITIVE ABOUT IT, instead of just whinging....
I am a Local Government Worker working for Dorset County, and also a member of Unison. Frankly the 2.45% offered is a disgrace, and in reality amounts to a pay cut. It is well below the ever increasing inflation......
Rogman wrote:
BournPosh wrote:
I'm 100% behind them, why should they accept a pittance of a pay rise?
It's a darn sight more than I got! In fact, I have nt had a rise of more than 2%for over 9 years!
Why are you "taking it lying down then" (so to speak)......If you feel strongly enough to respond to BournPosh , (who, incidentally) I totally agree with, that your pay rise is also very poor......BE PRO- ACTIVE AND DO SOMETHING POSITIVE ABOUT IT, instead of just whinging....
I am a Local Government Worker working for Dorset County, and also a member of Unison. Frankly the 2.45% offered is a disgrace, and in reality amounts to a pay cut. It is well below the ever increasing inflation......
Posted by: Nighthawk, Bournemouth on 7:37pm Wed 16 Jul 08
[quote][bold]ALL SEEING EYE[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]Rogman[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]BournPosh[/bold] wrote: I'm 100% behind them, why should they accept a pittance of a pay rise? [/quote] It's a darn sight more than I got! In fact, I have nt had a rise of more than 2%for over 9 years![/quote] Perhaps you're not worth more than 2% - the support staff are![/quote] Well said, I agree !!!
I work with elderly, frail people as a Care Worker, and believe we are also worth far more than the 2.45% offered by Dorset County Council...
ALL SEEING EYE wrote:
Rogman wrote:
BournPosh wrote: I'm 100% behind them, why should they accept a pittance of a pay rise?
It's a darn sight more than I got! In fact, I have nt had a rise of more than 2%for over 9 years!
Perhaps you're not worth more than 2% - the support staff are!
Well said, I agree !!!
I work with elderly, frail people as a Care Worker, and believe we are also worth far more than the 2.45% offered by Dorset County Council...
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