This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/west_midlands/7225743.stm
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Thousands strike in pay band row | Thousands strike in pay band row |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| More than 80 schools in Birmingham are closed as thousands of council workers are taking part in a 24-hour strike. | More than 80 schools in Birmingham are closed as thousands of council workers are taking part in a 24-hour strike. |
| The walkout, which follows the failure of last-ditch talks, is expected to cause widespread disruption and affect all council services. | |
| Up to 20,000 city council workers voted to strike over plans to restructure staff pay bands with unions claiming they were not consulted. | Up to 20,000 city council workers voted to strike over plans to restructure staff pay bands with unions claiming they were not consulted. |
| Birmingham City Council said it was legally obliged to review its services. | Birmingham City Council said it was legally obliged to review its services. |
| The council claims 45% of the workers will get a "considerable increase". | The council claims 45% of the workers will get a "considerable increase". |
| But the unions said some council staff could lose up to £18,000 a year each under the plans. | |
| Schools will be closed because workers, including cooks, cleaners and teaching assistants are due to strike. | Schools will be closed because workers, including cooks, cleaners and teaching assistants are due to strike. |
| 'Non-critical services' | 'Non-critical services' |
| Unison West Midlands regional secretary Valerie Broom said: "Our members deserve better treatment and the people of Birmingham deserve better quality services." | Unison West Midlands regional secretary Valerie Broom said: "Our members deserve better treatment and the people of Birmingham deserve better quality services." |
| In a statement, the council said: "In light of the industrial action planned by the trade unions in Birmingham, regrettably the city council has had to take the decision to suspend a number of non-critical services." | |
| The council is the biggest unitary authority in the UK and efforts will be made to keep as many services and buildings open as possible, a spokesman added. | The council is the biggest unitary authority in the UK and efforts will be made to keep as many services and buildings open as possible, a spokesman added. |
| Members of Unison, Unite, the GMB and the construction workers union Ucatt are taking part in the strike. | Members of Unison, Unite, the GMB and the construction workers union Ucatt are taking part in the strike. |
| The city council has listed the schools expected to be affected on its website. | The city council has listed the schools expected to be affected on its website. |
| Other services which were set to be affected included: Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery | Other services which were set to be affected included: Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery |
| More than 20 libraries closed | More than 20 libraries closed |