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Islington Tribune - by TOM FOOT
Published: 18 July 2008

Strikers on the picket line at Islington town hall

Schools are closed as public sector staff stage strike action

Hundreds take part in two-day walkout over pay

HUNDREDS of council workers walked out on strike on Wednesday in a row over pay.
The 48-hour action led to the closure of schools, including Highbury Grove, libraries and disruption to other Town Hall services.
The public sector workers’ union Unison is calling for Islington Council to meet its demands of a pay increase in line with inflation.
Andrew Berry, secretary of Islington Unison, said: “We have done extremely well. It is normally difficult for us to close schools without teachers coming on strike too. But we closed or partially closed 15. Highbury Grove closed as well – we have never done that before. We have 1,500 members and it seems that many followed us out on strike.”
Reports from picket lines outside Islington Town Hall indicated that the strike was “solid”. Strikers later joined a London-wide march from Lincoln’s Inn Fields to Friends Meeting House, Euston.
The public sector workers are threatening further action if demands for a six per cent pay increase, or 50 pence an hour, are not met.
Islington Council is offering workers a 2.45 per cent raise, in line with a Government benchmark for public sector pay.
Inflation officially reached the 3.8 per cent mark yesterday with the rising cost of food and fuel putting added pressure on the cost of living.
Cllr John Gilbert, Islington Council’s Executive Member for Human Resources, said: “We’ve taken care to ensure that essential services are maintained and our most vulnerable residents are looked after, while keeping disruption to an absolute minimum.
“It’s business as usual for most and in Islington – unions have given exemptions for emergency services, such as residential care and emergency social work teams.”

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I was out! On a 2 day strike and stood strong but sorry, "no more over" 85% crossed, the first day. I was gob smacked,when a shop stuward transported men over the gates in transit with blacked out windows. 80% worked the second day and many more office staff worked from home the unions are not strong any more unless we deliver petrol. If i get 1p less in (JE) I will end my £22.00 per month subs to the T and G fact!!!!!!!
Marty Wild