Cheshire street cleaners vote for strike
Street cleaners in Cheshire have voted to strike over changes to their working week.
Members of Unison, GMB and Unite will ban overtime from 27 December and a walk out for two hours on 5 January.
They said Cheshire West and Chester Council have changed their rota to cover a seven-day week without increasing their pay.
A council spokesman said it was trying to protect jobs and services by saving money on additional payments.
"We are extremely disappointed that the unions have decided to take this action against a background of enforced spending cuts from central government," he said.
"Cheshire West and Chester Council is endeavouring to protect jobs and services by saving money on additional payments, rather than cutting basic pay and making redundancies.
"We are trying to move to a more efficient and cost effective way of working and we urge the unions to call off their action and continue talking to us."
Pat Barlow, regional organiser for Unison, said: "The union members are angry at the change in their working week, but would work with the council to provide a seven-day service with proper recompense for working unsocial hours and flexible annual leave.
"It's unfortunate that the council don't value their staff as they do their public image."