UNION chiefs haven’t ruled out fresh strike action following last week’s national walk-out by council workers.

Thousands of town hall staff across the UK – including those at the borough and county councils in Ellesmere Port – took part in industrial action on Wednesday and Thursday over their latest pay claim. They have been offered a 2.45% increase but Unison wants 6%.

“Our industrial action committee is now assessing the success of the national protest before deciding its next move,” said Unison spokesman Neal Linksy.

He added: “The strike was more effective than we thought it would be.

“It’s all about getting the employers to move, to see if they will improve their offer. If they don’t there will be more strikes.”

More than 50 workers from the borough council’s HQ, Rossfield Road depot, Westminster housing office and joint borough/county highways unit picketed outside the Civic Way offices last week.

County offices closed for two days included those in Coro- nation Road, Park Family Centre in Stanney Lane, and Ellesmere Port Library.

Other services affected included bin and recycling collections.

Pickets received support from borough council leader Justin Madders, who said: “If my employers had offered me a 2.45% pay rise then I’d be likely to take similar action to them.

“We are all aware of the increases in the cost of living, and I hope both sides can get together nationally around the table and strike a deal to reflect that.”

Donna McDonagh, secretary of Unison’s Ellesmere Port branch, said: “Our picket line was very well supported. Only about 100 staff reported for work out of about 700.

“We received positive support from other people too. I’m really proud of my colleagues who took the decision to support the strike. It was a success and we got our message across.”

Branch chairman Steve Lamb said they granted exemptions to staff working at places like Stoak Lodge and the control centre at Joseph Groome Towers as they did not want the strike to affect vulnerable people.

Dave Prentis, Unison’s general secretary, said: “It’s never an easy decision to go on strike. Our members aren’t militants – they work hard every day to provide services our communities rely on. But some 600,000 of them have now made their feelings clear.”