Gwent hit by strike action

Along with more than 100 closed schools; residents found doors of libraries and leisure centres locked, cemeteries closed and funeral services put on hold, due to a strike called by members of the Unison and Unite trade unions.

Unison's Gwent regional organiser, Dominic Macaskill, said 90 per cent of their 10,000 Gwent members were taking part in the two-day walkout.

A Newport council spokeswoman estimated 70 per cent of staff had attended work as normal yesterday, refuse collections ran as usual and housing offices remained open, but 26 city schools were fully shut and eight partially closed.

Tredegar House and other parks in the city were also closed.

In Blaenau Gwent all six libraries were closed, with Cwm cemetery the only one open in the borough.

Brynmawr Funeral Director, Roger Hughes said having to put back funerals was causing "a lot of discomfort for us and families."

County Hall in Cwmbran, headquarters to both Monmouthshire and Torfaen councils.

Monitor, the company who run the building is also on strike, meaning any workers who might have crossed the picket line would not be able to do so. So many reduced services were run from other locations.

Leisure centres in Monmouth and Chepstow shut their doors at 2:30pm, and the same will happen today.

Caerphilly Council was also operating in skeleton mode, with 26 schools shut.

Public sector workers are striking because of a 2.45 per cent pay rise they've been offered.

Unison workers are seeking a six per cent rise which they say is more in line with rising prices of food and fuel.