ALL libraries across the borough are expected to close this Saturday and the following Saturday in a dispute with Cheshire West and Chester Council.
In addition, staff are refusing to use personal cars during working hours and care workers are to go on strike after the council imposed new contracts.
Unison is calling on library staff to strike on Saturday, March 24, and Saturday, March 31, with the intention of closing all branches, including Chester, Ellesmere Port, Winsford and Northwich.
Union members are unhappy about cuts to the staff car allowance and pay enhancements for weekend and bank holiday working affecting library staff, care workers and residential staff in schools, children’s homes and care homes.
The programme of action follows a three-hour strike on Valentine’s Day by council workers angry at changes to their terms and conditions.
Tory council leaders say the changes are necessary to equalise terms and conditions between employees of the four legacy authorities which were replaced by CWaC in 2009.
Ray McHale, of West Cheshire Unison branch, said senior councillors were not interested in negotiating and had even declined to go to the conciliation service ACAS.
He said: “Clearly staff are very reluctant to take industrial action, particularly care workers, but they have been left with little choice.”
