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Striker clipped by car on Blackpool picket line
BITTER rows have erupted across the Fylde as thousands of council workers began their second day of strike action.
In Fylde agency workers were drafted in to clear bins – a move which bosses at the public sector unions Unison and Unite claim is illegal.
In Blackpool there was anger on the picket lines at Progress House where a striking worker was clipped by a car passing through the gates. The worker has not been injured but pickets were ordered to move 30 yards away by police.
Schools, libraries and leisure centres across the Fylde were closed throughout yesterday as thousands of council workers walked out over the bitter pay row.
The action was called after workers nationally rejected a 2.45 per cent pay offer.
Steve Trainor, shop steward for Unite in Fylde, said: "The council is using staff for essential jobs, which includes grey bin waste.
"If that was allowed why isn't every council in the country doing the same?
"We have checked with both our union and Unison. The council have been given bad advice."
Prior to the strike Fylde Council, which collects waste in both Fylde and Wyre, said it would aim to minimise disruption by collecting all black sacks and grey bins as scheduled over the two days.
A spokesman for the authority said: "When it comes to strikes the obligation is to make sure the service is maintained and so it becomes necessary to take on temporary staff.
"The staff will perform only the basic duties that are required to make sure we deliver the Government-required services which will prevent penalties from the Government and disruption to the people living in Fylde."
Police were called out to a report that a female picketing outside offices at Progress House in Blackpool was clipped by a vehicle yesterday morning.
Following the incident, in which the woman was not injured, officers instructed the picket line to go back 30 yards away from a blind junction at Clifton Road.
And there have been mixed views from the public over the action.
Linda Dyson, 59, from South Shore, said: "We've just been shopping and were shocked by how much more everything costs. If people need to be paid more, we support them."
Andrew Hindle, 41, of Abbeyville, South Shore, said: "I'm totally against it. They get paid enough. It isn't fair on the pupils who are missing out on two days at school."
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Weather for Blackpool
Sunday 27 May 2012
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Temperature: 14 C to 27 C
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