Low impact from Pershire council workers' strike

Sep 26 2008 by Andrew Welsh, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

FEARS that services in Perthshire would be crippled by a one-day council workers’ strike proved unfounded.

However, while Wednesday’s walk-out by members of the GMB, Unison and Unite unions failed to cause major disruption in the Big County, there was still inconvenience for some residents.

Although primary and secondary schools remained open as normal, nursery classes and out-of-school clubs were closed.

Despite the presence of a small band of pickets outside its doors, Perth and Kinross Council’s main headquarters in Perth High Street conducted business as usual.

But it was a different story over at Kinnoull Street where Pullar House was closed to the public, including local authority tenants seeking to pay rent and visitors to the council’s planning department.

Elsewhere, Perth’s AK Bell Library was out of action, while civic amenity sites across the area were also closed.

Union members staged the latest strike in protest at a proposed 2.5% pay rise being offered by local authorities.

Further action is not being ruled as negotiations continue to stall.