A STRIKE by council workers has flopped, according to Sir Sandy Bruce-Lockhart, the chairman of the Local Government Association and former leader of Kent County Council.

Sir Sandy, who as LGA chair represents local authority employers, said that only a minority of council employees had joined the one-day strike on Tuesday and that the action had failed to disrupt local services.

However, his verdict on the strike was disputed by union officials, who have claimed widespread support for their action across Kent and elsewhere.

"Union predictions of 1.5million strikers appear to have been wildly optimistic. The vast majority of council services have not been affected," said Sir Sandy.

He went on to say he was disappointed unions had pre-empted a decision by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott about new pension rights and warned a failure to change the rules on pensions would add two per cent more to average council tax bills.

"It is deeply disappointing that even before the Deputy Prime Minister had made a decision, the unions chose to take strike action. The unions must realise that the council taxpayer simply cannot keep paying more."

Changes were needed as early retirement on a full pension was not affordable. Unless action was taken, the cost to individual council tax payers and local government would continue to rise, he said.

The dispute is over government plans to scrap a rule that currently allows some members of the Local Government Pension Scheme to retire on a full pension at 60.

Related article:

Public services staff stage 24-hour walkout