Strike chaos fails to become reality (From Gazette Series)

Strike chaos fails to become reality

BRITAIN'S largest shutdown since the General Strike of 1926 left Stroud district relatively unscathed on Tuesday as the row over public sector pensions came to a head.

Approximately one million workers throughout the country took industrial action

after UNISON, the public sector union, called a strike over the age that their members can retire.

Across the country five million schoolchildren were forced to return home after schools were closed. But the story was somewhat different in the Gazette area, where predictions of crowded picket lines and endless "closed" signs failed to materialise.

In Dursley, Rednock School, the library and public swimming pool all opened as usual despite contrary predictions by UNISON.

Berkeley Library was the only notable exception, closing for part of the day. A spokesman for Stroud District Council said: "We estimate that no more than 20 percent of our staff were absent.

"The only services affected were the tourist information centre in Stroud, the Subscription Rooms and the Museum in the Park, which were all closed - although the Subscription Rooms did re-open in the evening for a concert."

Throughout Gloucestershire, some schools were closed and services for vulnerable groups like the elderly were affected.

A spokesman for UNISON warned that further action would be taken over the coming weeks.

Lisa Youlton, South West regional organiser for UNISON, said: "It was a fantastic day and passed all expectations throughout the region.

"There was a strong turnout in Stroud despite workers having taken their own strike action over their new contracts.

"We have about 350 members at the council and many of them took part. We're planning further regional action on April 25 and then national action on May 3 and 4 - to coincide with the local elections."