A STRIKE involving council workers and teachers will see schools close and bins go uncollected on Thursday.

Bolton Council has rel-eased details of the ser-vices that will be affected by the industrial action on July 10.

Members of Unison, Un-ite and GMB will walk out as part of a national public strike over pay.

From 6am, picket lines will be held outside council depots and offices, while a rally will take place in Victoria Square from 10.30am.

All the council’s enquiry access points and buildings will be closed to the public, including the One Stop Shop in the town hall, the library, museum and arch-ive services.

Adult social care day ser-vices will also be closed, while bin collections will not be carried out.

Normal collections will resume on the next scheduled pick-up date.

The council expects many schools will be closed, but parents are being asked to check with headteachers to see whether specific scho-ols, nurseries or children’s centres will be open.

Bolton Unison branch secretary Bernadette Gall-agher said members want Bolton Council to apply pressure nationally to get pay improved.

She said: “Obviously we regret any effect on services as we want public services to stay in the public sector.

“However, our dispute is with a national body which Bolton Council is signed up to.

“We would hope Bolton Council will try and influence them to improve pay, which has fallen by up to 20 per cent over the last few years.”

Bolton Council’s tele-phone service will be limited on Thursday, but anyone with an emergency should contact the council on 01204 333333 between 8am and 5.30pm.

Unison rejected an offer of a one per cent pay increase, and has campaigned for a £1 an hour minimum rise for most staff and a £1.20 increase for the lowest paid.

A council spokesman said: “We are working acr-oss the council to prepare for the implications of strike action.

“Our priority is to maintain services to the most vulnerable residents and service users.”

For more information on bin collections affected by the strike, you should contact 01204 336632.

For school closure infor-mation, visit www.bolton.

gov.uk/schooldirectory.

l FIREFIGHTERS are set to go on strike at peak times over eight cons-ecutive days over their pensions.

They will walk out from 6am to 8am, and then again from 5pm to 7pm on July 14, 15, 16 and 17, from 6am to 8am and 11pm to 1am on July 18.

They will also walk out from 11am to 1pm and 11pm to 1am on July 19, from 6am to 8am and from 5pm to 7pm on July 20, and from 6am to 8am and from 5pm to 7pm on July 21.