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Strike blog

The 16/17 July action as it happened

4.48pm Last entry for the strike action. A very big thank you to everyone who has sent news items and pictures. Although the rolling news is stopping for now, keep checking in on the UNISON site to see your news and pictures and messages and to check out what's happening in the follow-up to the action.

It's been a fantastic display of action by UNISON members. Give yourselves a big cheer!

4.26pm At time of writing we're suffering or enjoying - depending how you look at it - from heavy traffic on the site.

4.25pm Check out the Stoke-on-Trent branch’s website and see some terrific pictures of their pickets and supporters. Go to http://stokeunison.wordpress.com/2008/07/17/strike-2/

4.20pm Great news story over at the Guardian which we’re finally putting up after everyone has been calling wanting us to link to it. It’s at: Guardian article

4.16pm Fantastic to see our colleagues in PCS backing our members at a rally in Coventry!

3.45pm Communications Workers Union members we salute you! Especially your members who brought our pickets at Wirral some lovely bacon butties today. Some of your best ever deliveries...

3.38pm Pendle Labour Party sends a message of support to our striking members. "Liberata may not be answering phones in Nelson, but their office is open. They say UNISON did not give sufficient notice to them of the strike, so they are forcing people to work. Nearby, agency strike breakers are being employed to cross picket lines to collect domestic waste. This is what happens if you vote Liberal Democrat."

3.20pm East Midlands reported over 60,000 members were out yesterday, and today they are reporting that 70% of branches have levels of support broadly the same as yesterday. The other 30% are reporting that more people are on strike today, having decided to take part following the coverage yesterday.

3.15pm Cynon Valley AM Christine Chapman has offered her support to our striking members. Christine is Secretary of the UNISON Group of Labour AM’s. She said "“I know that the public sector workers haven’t taken the decision to strike lightly. We must however remember and value the essential work that these people carry out day in day out, delivering front line services that keep our communities going – from keeping our streets clean to supporting the most vulnerable people in our communities.”

2.58pm Julian's Flickr pages show the action down in Hertfordshire www.flickr.com/photos/whentheapertureshuts

2.28pm The Northern Ireland rally in Derry has had a smashing turnout. Chaired by Derry Trades Council with Patricia McKeown - UNISON and President of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, along with Unite and Nipsa speakers. The rally was also attended by elected representatives of Sinn Fein and SDLP.

ALL public services provided by Council workers and NJC staff were closed.

2.10pm The South West regional update is in. Seems like the action is hardening.

BANES (Bath and North East Somerset) - Pickets at Bath central library. Numbers of strikers in BANES has been maintained today, with a picnic at lunchtime.

Cheltenham - Offices and art gallery remain closed to public. Depot has about 30 members outside. Nothing going out. Some who crossed line yesterday not reported to work today. Morale high. No refuse or recycling ops again today.

Cornwall County - Pickets at Tregolls School Truro.

Devon County - Devon Fire & Rescue have limited operations today. Rally and March took place in Exeter at midday.

Gloucester City - Pickets at docks. Staying till 10. Estimate fewer people than yesterday going in.

Gloucester County - 57 schools reported shut. Pickets believe fewer reporting for work today. Workplaces shut yesterday remain shut.

Mid Devon - Tiverton library closed.

North Devon - Barnstaple waste collection. more pickets outside gates than yesterday. No agency staff turned up today. Better response today than yesterday. Barnstaple agency have told their staff not to go in today.

Poole and District - Pickets at the waste depot from 3am again and pickets at the civic centre, annex, and day centres. All pickets now at recycling depot to try and turn Bournemouth Council's collections- over 30% turned away!

Tewkesbury - Successful picket again today GMB and non members refusing to cross picket line. Management accusing GMB of secondary picketing yesterday and threatening to bring police in today to clear highway! Depot closed again today.

Torbay - Morning picket of town hall offices.

South Gloucester - Pickets' picnic in the park takes place opposite the civic centre. Reported that there are twice as many applications coming in as resignations.

South Somerset - 75% membership still out. Benefits office closed, public can’t get through. Very positive radio news coverage on radio Ivel. Pickets outside West Dorset district council again and Dorchester county. Also Sturminster area office social services

Swindon - Pickets at Swindon recycling depot at 5.45 this morning. Depot closed to public second day running . Swindon civic centre pickets - everybody out including the dog! Good numbers striking. 6 schools closed again.

Weymouth and Portland - support certainly much better today. Public reaction on the whole very good too

2.02pm More Welsh action! The following Pembrokeshire services closed - Haverfordwest Airport closed. - Fishguard, Milford Haven and Pembroke Dock - Toll bridge in Pembroke dock - Customer Service Centres in Haverfordwest - Refuse - Holly house

1.54pm Another independent blogger backing our action at http://blogs.independent.co.uk/openhouse/2008/07/why-unison-dese.html#more and coverage on UK Indy Media of cyclists and motorists taking part in a 'drive slow' round Birmingham's ring road yesterday: http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/07/403985.html

1.30pm Our East Hertfordshire reporter says, "Less were going into work today than yesterday. Public very supportive. Hundreds of pounds given to strike hardship fund."

1.19pm The support just keeps coming: "The South West Region of the NUT was extremely grateful for the support that UNISON members gave to our strike over pay on 24th April. We are pleased to reciprocate that support for you during your two days of industrial action on 16th and 17th July.

"We wish you every success with your industrial action and ongoing campaign and look forward to working with you during the coming weeks as we carry the campaign forward." Andy Woolley Regional Secretary NUT South West Region

1.12pm Our server's still struggling to cope with the traffic so apologies if our rolling news gets loaded on what appears to be an intermittent basis. Maybe best to think of less as rolling and more like tumbling?

1.05pm Edwin and Margaret, UNISON branch secretaries in Hartlepool have been picketing on both days. “We are happy with the turnout. The action is having the desired effect locally.We hope that this two day strike will bring the employers back to the negotiating table.”, said Edwin.

"The 2.45 per cent offer is a straight pay cut for the fifth year running. Petrol prices are up 22 per cent, gas and electricity up 15 per cent and food bills up 11 per cent in the last year. Even the official inflation figures are now four per cent and rising."

The action at Easington is also described as ‘solid’.

12.57pm About 20 schools closed in Tower Hamlets today.

12. 35pm News in from Sutton, Greater London region - Waste and recycling significantly affected. Only 2 to 4 vehicles out today - none on household waste - approx 96% closure. 4 Libraries closed and no mobile library running Sutton main library plus one other closing later today.

12.07pm Mike in Cardiff says that “private security has been used… and they’ve threatened our pickets and were very aggressive. They told our pickets, all female, to move on and they could not picket. They refused. Senior management are using very aggresive tactics with all picket lines. There are many instances of agency workers being used to do strikers work.”

12.02pm Our valiant open-top bus posse are back from their travels in the London wind and rain, singing their hearts out, and now heading for a well-earned cuppa.

12 noon Twelve hours left of our 48-hour strike and its been a great show of support. And it's been a privilege reporting on it!

11.48am Woof if you support us! Big dog backing the strike in the Rhondda can be seen here www.flickr.com/photos/peppermintiguana/2673866217/in/set-72157606201005298/

11.40am Graeme sends a message: "Yesterday, strikers brought Birmingham City Centre to a standstill with a slow moving cavalcade of cyclists and over 50 vehicles covered with placards and UNISON flags. Well covered by TV and radio media."

11.20am This is what we want! South Wales Fire & Rescue - 100% support from our members over both days. This is a magnificent show of support from these lads and lasses and we've been cheering them on here in the back-room. Tea and buns all round - or take them along something a little stronger to sup on if you're passing by!

11.15am Strong picket lines at Hertfordshire County Hall for second day running, with deliveries being turned away.

11.11am News of Northern Ireland action flies in from our correspondent Jane:

Belfast – UNISON stewards Committee of North & West Health branch have joined Unite picket line at the new combined Grove Centre facility, bringing support and solidarity.

UNISON pickets out again at all Education Board HQs.

Retired members joined picket line at Belfast Education Board HQ and North-Eastern Board HQ.

Councillor James Brown got down and funky with the pickets. He's the former chair of the employers' side Provincial Joint Council and joined picket line at Carrickfergus Council.

NJC workers in the North West gearing up for Rally in Derry at 1pm.

SIPTU members in Belfast City Council have closed West Belfast refuse depots and Belfast Zoo along with Unite.

UNISON received extensive photo coverage on all NI TV stations and range of live interviews on BBC radio. Headlines in all local papers yesterday and today.

NJC employers' rep for NI – Councillor James Spratt - refused to interact live with UNISON on 45 min BBC broadcast yesterday. The subsequent public phone-in was particularly sympathetic to the strikers.

Despite best attempts none of the TV stations could find members of the public hostile to the strike – even the holiday makers with cancelled flights at Derry City Airport understood.

Ulster Television Poll – Do you support the strike – 67% YES 32% NO

11.07am Good reports from Wales generally that support is firming up, including places that had been less well-supported yesterday.

11.01am Gerry at Herefordshire reports, "Good public support and local media coverage. Pickets at all Council Offices in City. Many services reduced or stopped."

11.00am Lindsay, Branch Secretary of Portsmouth City UNISON writes: "Join us outside the Civic Offices at 12.30 today, if enough turn up we can run another walkabout rally into Commercial Road. We had over 300 yesterday, best we've ever done, let's do it again!!!! Let's show PCC we really mean business!!"

10.51am Cambridgeshire UNISON give their take on the action on their own webpage at www.unisoncambridgeshire.org.uk/

10.45am From Mark Serwotka -the General Secretary of the Public and Civil Services union - "PCS members fully support the strike action being taken by UNISON members in local government ... We offer your members solidarity and best fraternal wishes, and I have asked our members to offer whatever practical support they can."

10.40am Massively high traffic hammering UNISON webpages...you may find it all...slows...down....a...bit on our site. We're working on it.

10.20am Slough - More pickets out almost double than day 1. 30-40 Pickets. Nearly all social workers are out. Children’s centre closed. Customer contact centres closed.

Southampton - Estimate 60/70% members are out. 18% School are closed. Depot Closed

Portsmouth - There is strong support around the city centre this morning. 8 picket lines have been set up and are well staffed.

Isle of Wight - Social Services at Cowes good pickets.

Hollingdean Depot - Thirty people were on the picket line which started from 5am. Some staff who were not UNISON members were sent home by management as they were being supportive of UNISON action.

Reading – recruited a new member.

East Sussex - Very few have crossed the picket line but have said that they won’t be covering for the people who are striking.

West Sussex - two picket lines at Chichester.

Horsham - 4 new members before the strike who are on the picket lines today.

Hart - Bins are not being emptied today. Two new members were recruited at the being of the week.

Sevenoaks - The public are generally supporting the strike. About 4 members have been recruited on the picket lines.

Lewes - All UNISON members out at Robinson Road.

9.58am Kids, eh? They'll have been drawing all over the back of those placards... Young support for our Welsh members.

9.48am Nice message of support from Ann Jones, Welsh Assembly Member from Vale of Clywd: "As chair of the Unison Labour Assembly Members group I want you to know that you have my full support for the action you have been forced to take.

"As a life-long trade unionist I know that it is never easy to take strike action. As public servants we offer a highly professional service and we feel that the loss of service is detrimental to the good of the public."

9.29am Salutations to Camden pickets Mandy Watson (Environmental health and consumer protection) and Mike Smith (Housing and adult social care).

9.15am A great set of photos of yesterday's Nottingham march and rally from Bob in the East Midlands http://www.flickr.com/photos/bobwatt/sets/72157606207700867/

8.55am Eric Pickles, the Tory shadow secretary for communities and local government says, "...the only people that will suffer from these strikes are hardworking families who are themselves struggling to make ends meet." Bizarrely, Eric seems happy to ignore the fact that it is our members who are the very same hardworking families struggling to make those ends meet! And he's equally happy to ignore the fact that it is his party colleagues controlling 80% of local authorities who are stopping those hard working families from making ends meet.

8.40am The Metro newspaper this morning has a great picture of strikers yesterday picketing Newcastle Civic Centre, saying "Schools and libraries were closed and rubbish piled up in streets...as hundreds of thousands of workers began a 48-hour strike."

8.30am The UNISON big red strike bus is being prepared for another London tour. Keep an eye out for our mobile ad vans in major city centres as well.

8.10am The Lancashire Association of Trades Union Councils (LATUC) sends its full support to local government workers taking action for fair pay. We represent many thousands of public and private sector workers across Lancashire and we congratulate all those who have taken strike action over the last two days. Lancashire is a low pay area. Many local government workers are already on poor wages. The 2.45% pay increase being offered to them will make their situation worse. We hope the strike is successful. Peter Billington Secretary, LATUC.

8.01am More on the figures - the Daily Mail saying 100,000 yet even the employers are saying at least 300,000. The Local Government Association said their own figures were an underestimate because some regions had not even returned figures.

7.55am Donna writes from Yorkshire, "I have been a teaching assistant for 15 years and it is a job that I thoroughly enjoy and I am passionate about. But the time has come for me to stand up along with my fellow members and say that we deserve a decent wage to reflect the high standard of work which our employers receive. Pats on the back and applause are very encouraging but they don't put food on the table or pay the bills."

7.48am Reports of nearly 1000 new members having applied to join UNISON at Wakefield.

7.35am And on Newsnight Keith Sonnet, Deputy General Secretary, squared up to Tory Minister Frances Maude about the strike. The discussion moved onto Party funding and Keith seemed to win a commitment from Maude to allow the press into the private meetings between the Tories and their multi-millionaire funders. Which will be interesting!

7.31am Did you see the news last night? Very strange to see the BBC reporting a tiotal of 100,000 members on strike when their reporter in Wakefield said 70,000 in Yorkshire and Humberside alone! Which means ...er...only 30,000 around the rest of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland!

7.30am And day 2 is already more than seven hours in.

DAY TWO REPORTING STARTS HERE

5.15pm And as many picket lines wind down for the day, let's not forget those who will still be on the lines this evening - some of them maybe overnight. They need sustenance and a bacon sarnie always goes down well. Or maybe go for the optional fried egg butties, or cheese rolls (heavy on the pickle). Or even go vegan and get creative with the carrot, tahini, and tomato in a sub? However you do it, get the fuel you need and get a good rest because it's all happening again tomorrow!

5.02pm Merv writes from South Tyneside: Successful first day All libraries,leisure centres closed.No refuse collections. 54 schools closed out of 62. Pickets at all main council buildings.

4.51pm Northern Ireland update - all leisure centres closed, Belfast Zoo closed.

4.49pm Sandwell in the West Midlands report around 3000 staying away from work in support of the strike.

4.44pm No, No, No...A popular song doing the rounds of the picket lines is to the tune of Amy Winehouse's 'Rehab':

They tried to make us take a pay cut but we said 'no, no, no',
Yes we’re on strike but when we get back you'll know know know,
We aren’t paid enough and if employers treat us rough,
Like try to make us take a pay cut we’ll say ‘no, no, no’.

4.32pm Liverpool comes good with a report on UNISON-forced closures:

One Stop Shops: Belle Vale, Garston, Speke, Wavertree, Walton.

Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority (MWDA) is not operating any of its 14 Household Waste Recycling Centres, including the Otterspool Centre.

All 13 day centres operated by supported living are shut, and the home care service is restricted to those in most need.

At least 16 schools and nurseries are fully closed, and another 11 partially shut.

4.13pm Bury in the North West region send a report of school closures: (Take a deep breath...) All Saints C of E, Cams Lane Primary School (part closed), Chantlers, Chesham Primary School (closing at 12noon each day), Christchurch Ainsworth C of E, East Ward Community Primary School, Elton Community (part-closed), Green Hill, Greenmount, Heaton Park, Hollins Grundy, Lowercroft, Mersey Drive Community (part closed), Park View, Peel Brow (part closed), Radcliffe Hall C of E/ Methodist, Radcliffe, Ribble Drive Community, Springside, Sedgely Park Community, St Andrews C of E, Ramsbottom, St Peters C of E, St Joseph & St Bede RC, St Joseph RC, Ramsbottom, St Lukes C of E, Tottington, Unsworth, Whitefield Community, Wesley Methodist (part closed), Woodback, Bury C of E, Castlebrook, The Derby, Elms Bank Specialist Arts College, Parrenthorn, The Ark, Radcliffe Riverside, Woodhey, Tottington. (Phew........)

4.08pm Around 2,000 people joined a noisy march through the centre of Bristol. There was also a large turnout for a rally on College Green with speakers from UNISON, UNITE, PCS and NUT.

3.59pm Mid and West Wales Labour AM Alun Davies - a UNISON member - has offered his support to striking council workers as thousands protest following poor pay awards.

He said: "The decision to strike today and tomorrow was not one taken lightly by our public sector workers. I am offering them my support in their demand for better pay. After all, the front line vital services that our public sector workers carry out affect the lives of everyone. It is only right that they receive the pay they deserve. I want to see better pay for LSAs, carers and street cleaners who carry out very valuable roles in our local communities."

3.48pm Our big strike bus is back from its first day out. It's been touring picket lines bringing messages of support from singing UNISON staff. Our staff have played an important role providing support to striking members right across the union.

3.44pm Andy writes from Plymouth: "Good first days action. Picketed Plymouth House. Two people who crossed picket lines came back out soon after, joined Unison and picketed themselves. Also respect to the midland road depot 1 who set up his own picket line as the only Unison member and all the GMB members refused to cross it. Great solidarity."

3.25pm And it's Eastern region part two:

Day services closed: John Turner, Lowestoft, Mildenhall Community Resource Unit, Saxmundham Resource Unit, Southgate Centre

3.15pm UNISON's Eastern region reports:

Libraries closed - Great Yarmouth, Mile Cross, Sprowston, Clare, Kesgrave, Lavenham, Leiston

Day services closed - Norwich, Sprowston, Attleborough, Holt Day, Caister

Record sections closed: Bury, Ipswich, Lowestoft

Other services closed - Harlow Advice Centre, Harlow Crematorium, Revenues & Benefits section severely affected.

All sections of the union pulling together to deliver the strike.

2.55pm The bus is back out doing the rounds, along with a mobile advert van supporting the call for fair pay.

2.46pm Just back from the pay rally at Friends Meeting House, which is still going on. Keith Sonnet, Deputy General Secretary. "Our members are fed up with privatisation, fed up with outsourcing, and fed up with being taken for granted," he said. The rally brought together UNISON and Unite members, as well as supporters from other unions. Read the full story here: Union salutes strikers

2.30pm Reports just in that Irish Congress of Trade Unions president - and UNISON regional secretary - Patricia McKeown addressed a lunchtime rally of striking workers in Belfast today to underscore ICTU's support for all involved in the fight for pay justice.

2.17pm Disappointingly, at least one council in the south west is flouting the law and using agency workers to cross picket lines. UNISON has pledged to take legal action against any employer hiring temporary workers to replace staff taking part in the strike.

2pm Messages of support are coming thick and fast from throughout the UK and around the world. Keep 'em coming - and check out the best of UNISON members' pictures from the picket lines here: strike photo gallery

1.30pm Way over the oceans, Nick, in New Zealand, says "Everybody deserves a fair day's pay for a fair day's work," asking: "Will Mr Brown take a pay cut?"

1.17pm From Northern region UNISON - after earlier news of school closures, updates showing Tyneside schools being shut: North Tyneside - 73%; and South Tyneside 87%.

1.02pm News of the Torpoint-Plymouth ferry being cancelled, forcing commuters to rely on river taxis.

12.58pm 10 of the council's one-stop shops have been closed in Leeds.

12.44pm City of Derry Airport shut down - although the Council sought an exemption from the strike...

12.39pm And it's back to the rolling news...

12.38pm Short sandwich stop for yours truly.

12.32pm Reports coming in that Wyre and Kidderminster are effectively closed - which is great work by our team.

12.24pm Maria sends a message of support: "Now living in Spain because I could no longer afford to live in UK on my wages from local government! Wishing you all success with the latest action."

12.21pm 75% of schools closed in Newcastle. Apparently they don't need no education on striking.

12.11pm 5000 driving tests cancelled as driving examiners from the PCS union back their union's action in a separate dispute over a below inflation offer.

12.07pm Still with Channel 4 and it's Dave Prentis saying, "Our members have been abused and their union is standing up for them". He's followed by Rena Wood from Manchester, "We've got a very strong level of support...the employers can afford fair pay...we are the people who have helped make their savings."

12.05pm Channel 4 news feature our strike and a great photo stunt with large cut-outs of basic household items showing how much they've gone up.

11.56am Anyone seen our bus? If you're in central London you're bound to have - it's a beautiful open-topped double-decker carrying the message "On strike for fair pay". Give it a cheer when it passes by.

11.54am Even the Government see that times are tough and announce deferral of the 2p fuel tax increase.

11.47am And we're not the only ones running a rolling news service on the strike: check out Matthew Weaver's live blog at http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/news/2008/07/local_government_strike_live.html

11.46am "After years of what have effectively amounted to annual pay cuts, local government employees such as nursery nurses, care assistants, refuse collectors, social workers and library assistants have finally decided enough is enough: if the bosses won't listen when their trade union officials patiently explain that the nation's lowest paid workers deserve a better deal, then those workers are going to take the only action left to them. Such is the strength of feeling over this year's derisory pay offer that they're even prepared to sacrifice a much-needed two days' wages in the process." So says Cath Elliott in her Comment is Free column at www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/jul/16/tradeunions.publicsectorcareers

11.35am Ashfield in the East Midlands reports 96% of members taking strike action. Solid stuff!

11.29am Who said a strike's always bad news? It's free parking today in Hastings as the Parking Wardens are all out in support of the action.

11.18am UNISON members at Bolsover Depot think the offer's rubbish and so none of the bins have gone out.

11.10am Executive Council of Irish Congress of Trade Unions meeting in Dublin today issues a message of support.

10.59am UNISON convenor Eddie Beedel tells National Secretary of Local Government Heather Wakefield about the use of agency labour to try to break the strike by Lewisham dustmen at Wearside Depot.

10.44am Anglesey Depot sees off a refuse vehicle.

10.30am Report that Oxford city council has agreed not to deduct pay till people get back pay.

10.20am We're in the news - in the U.S.! The New York Times quotes Brendan Barber, TUC General Secretary'The growing gap between wages and inflation is the reason why thousands of council workers will reluctantly be going on strike.''

Anglesey send them packing!

10.19am Harrogate - all administration buildings kept shut today.

10.12am School's out for summer (well today and tomorrow at least) in Cornwall: Curnow, Tregolls, Roskear, Pencalenick and Doubletress schools closed down.

10.10am No overdues today - Central and Fred Moore libraries closed in Hull.

10.05am Heena Modi writes on her blog: "When will we wake up and pay those who we can’t do without, those who nurture the future a fair wage? How frustrated are you when your refuse isn’t collected? How hard is it knowing that your child needs support in class but the learning assistant who helps them so much isn’t it, for whatever reason. We need these members of staff!"

9.40am 5 Live radio giving a lot of attention to anti-strike views. If you've got soemthing to say about that you can text them on 85058

9.27am Barnet branch in Greater London region calls in - they've shut all the nursery schools.

9.10am Message from Dave in Derbyshire "Fantastic support for the strike from Derbyshire's schoolworkers - teaching assistants in particular out in force on picket lines throughout the county. Big secondary schools completely closed. The intimidation didn't work!"

9.05am Carmarthenshire depot UNISON members have been picketing since 4.30am this morning."Everything locked down. No dust, no highways or parks and gardens working." Someone get these champions a cuppa!

8.59am Reports of schools closed in Bournemouth, South West Region - Bethany Elmrise Heathlands Kings Park Kingsleigh Primary Muscliff Primary Pokesdown St.Clements and St.Johns St.Marks Queens Park Junior Avonbourne Glenmoor Kings High Portchester Bicknell

8.46amNews of strike-forced closures in from Calderdale, Yorkshire and Humberside region - Westgate House Halifax Town Hall Hebden Bridge Picture House Central Library, Halifax Elland Library Hebden Bridge Library Mytholmroyd Library Skircoat Library Todmorden Library Jerusalem Farm Camp Site Hebden Bridge Cash Office Hebden Bridge Council Offices Learning Disability Services at Chatham Street, Royd Square, Clay House and Hipperholme. Todmorden Market And on top of that, no large or small mobile library service.

Jill Grainger and John Mann on the Camden picket line

8.20am A quick shout out to Jill Grainger and John Mann who we met on the Camden Council picket line this morning at 6.50am. Jill and John usually work in Camden's Sport and Physical Activity section, but today were up bright and early for the strike.

8.15am The Daily Mail says "A summer of strikes begins today with hundreds of schools closed and piles of rubbish left uncollected. Thousands of workers from teaching assistants to dinner ladies and cleaners to bin men are walking out in a bitter dispute over poor pay rises."

8.07am The Guardian reports that "inflation hit a 16-year high of 3.8% last month as the price of food and petrol surged to record levels, prompting predictions that the cost of living could reach 5% this year."

8.02am Cannock school closed - teaching assistants and the caretaker taking action together to keep the gates shut.

7.59am "On behalf of 350,000 public and private sector employees in Canada, we want to express our solidarity with the local government members of UNISON who are on strike for Fair Pay." - James Clancy, President and Larry Brown, Secretary Treasurer of the National Union of Public and General Employees, Canada

7.45am BBC TV news calling for views on the strike by texting 61124 or email at breakfasttv@bbc.co.uk

7.27am Australian Services Union sends message of support. "It is with great pleasure that I write to UNISON members, on behalf of ASU local government employees, wishing them every success in their current campaign for wages and salary justice in local government," writes Greg MacLean their Assistant National Secretary and Head of Public Services.

7.06am Dave Prentis on the BBC national news sofa. "The employers have ferreted away £6 billion for a rainy day. Well £3 billion of that is enough for a monsoon."

7.01 UNISON action is top story on BBC national news. Manchester Town Hall picket line and Southampton refuse depot feature.

7am Picket line gathers outside the Basingstoke Council Offices. They'll be there tomorrow too.

6am Herts County Branch hold picket lines outside County Hall until 11am. At 12pm there is a march though Hertford Town Centre. All welcome.

dawn The refuse collectors are out in force on the picket line at Southampton city council.

0.01am The strike starts now!