9:35am Wednesday 16th July 2008
By Harry Hogger
Council workers strike COUNCIL bosses are promising that the majority of services will carry on as normal despite strikes by workers that begin today.
Schools and libraries across the county face disruption but Dorset County Council insists all essential services' will be maintained.
Weymouth and Portland Borough Council says household waste and recycling collections scheduled during the two-day strike may not take place, but almost all other operations will run as normal.
Members of trade unions Unison and Unite across the country are taking strike action today and tomorrow over pay.
Workers including teaching assistants, cleaners, librarians, social workers and care home workers will be staging a walk-out in protest over a proposed pay increase of just 2.45 per cent.
However, the council claims that the majority of staff will be working as normal and arrangements have been made to guarantee key services are protected, with priority being given to those involving children and vulnerable adults.
The only two schools the council expects to be affected by the strike are Brackenbury First School on Portland and St Mary's School in Beaminster, which is likely to be closed for two days.
Dorset County Council's director for corporate resources Elaine Taylor said: "Our current indications are that the majority of staff will be working. This is a national dispute - the pay levels for staff working at the county council are set on a national basis and still remain under negotiation for this year.
"We have reached agreement with Unison for a small number of staff to be exempt from strike action because of the essential nature of the services they provide.
"We will continue to talk to Unison about further exemptions up to the last minute. We hope to keep disruption to all services to an absolute minimum."
Homes in Weymouth and Portland that miss out on recycling and household waste collection rounds will have to wait for the next scheduled collection either one week or two weeks later.
Anyone who is unsure of their usual collection day can check online at www.weymouth.gov.uk/health/ rubbishandrecycling or by calling 01305 838000. Household waste can also be disposed of at the council's recycling centres at Lodmoor and Easton.
Services likely to be affected by industrial action today and tomorrow:
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