UNISON members in Cheshire have stopped using their cars for council work from today until 11 April.
The action is part of a programme of industrial action aimed at getting West Cheshire and Chester council to reopen talks about cuts to terms and conditions.
The latest escalation of action will also see library staff on strike for the next two Saturdays.
The council is stopping paying enhancements for staff working weekends, overtime and all bank holidays, except Christmas, from April.
It is also paying less for working nights, while staff contracted to use their own cars for work face cuts of around £1,500 a year in their car allowance.
Council leaders’ comments about cutting “massively over generous” terms and conditions have left staff increasingly angry.
The unions say that working weekends, and going to work six days a week, as library staff have to do every other week, involves extra travel costs, additional childcare issues, and a disruption to family life compared to other staff.
Noting that 70% of council staff earn less than £21,000 a year, UNISON branch secretary Teresa Connally commented: “Now staff working anti-social hours, which have real additional costs are facing a pay cut.
“For library staff it will be at least a 5% cut. For care staff it will be much more. This is on top of a three year pay freeze.
“All good employers pay enhancements for working anti-social hours,” she added. “Our members are not prepared to give up theirs without a fight.”
UNISON and other unions are warning that further strike action will be called involving other groups of staff and are urging the council to reopen and involve ACAS, the arbitration and conciliation service.