19/8/2008Bute: Industrial action Wednesday 20 August - no Rothesay ferry service
While Argyll and Bute Council is operating on the basis of 'business of usual' there may be disruption to some services.
Rothesay - there will be no ferry service.
Caledonian MacBrayne regional manager Brian Fulton confirmed earlier in the week that the industrial action would bring a halt to the company's Rothesay-Wemyss Bay ferry service.
The ferry crews themselves will not be on strike, but the vessels' ropes are tied up and untied by employees of the pier's owner, Argyll and Bute Council - and the authority does not have enough qualified staff to do the work of the striking pier hands.
Caledonian MacBrayne said: "We understand that industrial action will be taken by Argyll and Bute Council staff at Rothesay and Dunoon piers. We very much regret that Caledonian MacBrayne has no option but to cancel sailings to the affected piers. We are advised that Argyll and Bute Council is making every effort to mitigate strike action."
The Rhubodach/Colintraive service will not be affected by the strike action.
Customers are advised to check Cal-Mac's website www.calmac.co.uk to confirm details of travel before departure. Up to date SMS text messaging information is also available for the Wemyss Bay/Rothesay route by texting calmac 03 to 60030. Texts cost 25p.
Schools will be open on 20 August.
They will operate as fully as possible but they may be affected by non-teaching staff taking strike action.
Transport: Services provided by external contractors should continue. Transport provided directly by Council minibuses is likely to be affected and parents should make other arrangements to get their children to and from school.
Catering: School meals provision may be affected. Parents should consider providing their children with packed lunches.
Pre School Classes: These may not be able to run and, if not, parents should keep pre-school children at home.
Children with disabilities: Schools will contact parents directly when children with disabilities have associated high level care needs to discuss how best their welfare can be addressed. In some situations children with disabilities may only access certain areas in school buildings. Transport will require consideration as above.
What is the strike about?
The trades unions have been negotiating a national pay deal for single status council employees. Single status refers to the type of contract that most council workers are on. The exceptions are senior managers, teachers and trades people.
COSLA (Convention of Scottish Local Authorities), on behalf of all Scottish councils, has offered a pay rise of 2.5% in each of the next three years. This is COSLA's final offer to the unions because it is as much as councils can afford.
UNISON, Unite and GMB have rejected this offer and, following a ballot of their members, have called this industrial action.