Nottinghamshire council workers strike

Thousands of workers at Nottinghamshire County Council are due to stage a 24-hour strike today in protest at spending cuts and the threat of 1,000 job losses.

The union Unison said up to 3,000 of its members at the local authority will walk out.

The union said the cuts included the closure of 35 specialist day centres, a "massive" hike in charges for social care, and cuts from the youth offending service and from services to children and young people.

Commenting on the cuts, Heather Wakefield, Unison head of local government, said:

“They hit the elderly, the disabled, people with learning disabilities, children with special needs, and people with mental health problems. These cuts are not inevitable – the council has £159 million in cash reserves. Instead of inflicting misery on local people why not use this money to help some of Nottinghamshire’s most vulnerable residents?

“This budget will wreak total devastation on local services – from the cradle to the grave. Millions cut from Sure Start, Early Years and Childcare. Children with special needs missing out on support, and youth offending projects cut.

“Day centres - a lifeline for elderly people, and for those with mental health problems or learning disabilities - are massively singled out. The council is pricing people out of the remaining day centres by hiking day charges, and fees for transport from zero up to £5 a day. Meal costs will skyrocket. Centres will stop providing meals altogether unless they can make a profit.

“Unison council workers in Nottinghamshire are going on strike to protect their jobs, but also to protect the local services they know are at the heart of this community. We want local people to join us in pressing for an alternative, fairer budget that will promote economic growth and protect vital local services.”