Thousands called out on strike across Brighton and Hove

Thousands of public sector workers have been called out on strike across Brighton and Hove today (Thursday 10 July).

Public sector unions have called national strikes affecting civil servants, teachers, council staff and firefighters.

The disputes revolve around pay, pensions and workloads. Most of those who are striking have had pay freezes or below inflation pay rise for the past few years.

Binmen and recycling crews are among those taking action and many schools are closed for the day.

Brighton and Hove City Council said: “Essential services, including care of the elderly and vulnerable, will be maintained.

“Most council buildings will be closed to the public. However, a limited reception service is likely to be available at Brighton Town Hall and Hove Town Hall.

“Traffic in the city centre will be severely disrupted as two marches will go through the city centre, meeting up at The Level.

“Both marches will start at 10.30am, one from Hollingdean Depot and one from Hove Town Hall.

“Disruptions are expected until around 2pm. Please check the Brighton and Hove Buses website for information on bus services.”

Most Brighton and Hove schools will be closed or partially closed, with the decisions being made by the headteachers and governors of individual schools.

The council has collated a list of closure and partial closures. To read it, click here.

The Carelink Service will be operating and the Oxford Street Housing Office in Brighton is likely to be open, the council said. But other housing offices may be closed.

The seafront office will be open and the beach lifeguard service will be running as normal. The Volks Railway will be closed.

The Jubilee Library and Hove Library are among those expected to be closed. Only Hangleton, Hollingbury, Rottingdean and Whitehawk libraries were expected to open as normal.

The Royal Pavilion and Brighton Museum and Art Gallery were closed.

But the council said that all its leisure centres would be open, including the King Alfred, Withdean, the Prince Regent, Moulsecoomb and Stanley Deason.

Unions to have called members out on strike today include the Fire Brigades Union, the GMB, the National Union of Teachers (NUT), the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), Unison and Unite.

Simon Herbert said: “It is a very difficult decision.”

He said that he and his colleagues had been pushed into a corner because proposed changes affected not just their future but public safety.