Strikers intimidated in Wales

David Prentis leads a rally outside the House of Commons

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Unison has complained of intimidation of strikers in Wales amidst hardening member resolve and a lobby outside the House of Commons.

The union claims that private security staff, hired by Cardiff City Council chiefs, used aggressive tactics in an attempt to move female picketers off their lines.

A union member said: "They told our pickets, all female, to move on and that they could not picket. They refused. Senior management are using very aggressive tactics with all picket lines. There are many instances of agency workers being used to do strikers work."

General Secretary Dave Prentis said:
 "The resolve of local government workers is hardening, particularly in Wales, where there is evidence of intimidation of some of our members.  

"The employers need only dip into their £11 billion reserves to end this dispute – they do not have to resort to cutting services or raising council tax." 

Unison head of education, Christina McAnea refuted claims of dwindling impact of the strike.

She said: "We know that that around 4,000 schools have been affected in the North West, North East, Yorkshire and Wales alone and we're still counting the information coming in from the rest of England."

Two hundred strike in Slough

According to Unison other incidents include 200 workers, mainly social workers, on strike in Slough and in Northern Ireland union workers closed Belfast Zoo and Derry airport.

In Hart, north west England all rubbish collections have been suspended.

In Wales 800 schools were closed, with all schools in Flintshire closing.

In Gateshead 88 out of 89 schools were closed and 91% of schools in Hartlepool are closed.   All libraries in Portsmouth are closed.
Unison is operating a rolling news service