Industrial action, Wednesday 16 and Thursday 17 July
15 July 2008
Members of the Unison and Unite trade unions are taking industrial action across the country this Wednesday 16 and Thursday 17 July as part of a national pay dispute.
Manchester residents are being advised by the City Council that while everything possible has been done to minimise disruption during the action, and essential services to vulnerable people will be maintained, some services will inevitably be reduced or unavailable.
While some schools remain open, a number of primary and secondary schools will be closed both days as a result of the strike action. Parents should have been notified of any closure by their children's schools but if in doubt they are urged to check directly. The same applies to Early Years daycare and Sure Start Children's Centres.
The Town Hall will be closed to the public during the industrial action and residents wishing to use other council-run facilities are advised to check with them before setting off.
The City Council has been working closely with waste collection contractor Enterprise Manchester to make sure any disruption caused by the strike is kept to a minimum. Recycling, bulky and clinical waste collections will go ahead as usual this Wednesday 16 and Thursday 17 July but household waste wheelie bins will be collected on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 July.
This will mean residents who normally have their waste (in the household waste wheelie bins) collected on Wednesday will have to put it out on Saturday 19 and anyone with Thursday collections needs to put their bins out on Sunday 20. Residents whose recycling bins/boxes are due to be collected this Wednesday and Thursday should leave them out as usual.
A City Council spokesperson said: "We have worked with our staff and with trade unions to ensure that essential services are delivered during the industrial action. Other services will be affected but will return to normal as soon as possible."
Anyone who wants more information about waste collections should contact Environment On Call on 0161 954 9000.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Roger Williams, Press Office Tel: 0161 2343275
