Protests over pay

 

Richard Woolven, Private Sector Housing Worker for Brighton and Hove Council, 50, said: “It’s about pay and years of having no pay increase.

“We’ve lost 20% of spending power over the last four years and enough is enough.

“The price of fuel and renting continues to rise and we’re expected to accept a 1% pay rise.

“It’s about no longer believing that austerity measures are required.”

Nick Kitson, 32, tenancy enforcement officer for Brighton and Hove City Council, said: “For me personally we’ve been extremely hard done by, we’ve seen our pay deducted in real terms and we’re expecting to see more of the same.

“I’m having to manage a case load of people that’s two or three times bigger than it was years ago because my colleagues have left.”

Street cleansing worker John O'Hara said: "People are drinking champagne in the city while we have to live off food banks.

“I have got my bills coming in at the end of the month and I might have to go to a loan company. All I am asking for is to be paid a living wage.”

 

Region the hardest hit

 

Almost 200 schools were closed across the county to at least some of their pupils, as teachers and support staff went on strike.

Brighton and Hove was by far the hardest hit.

No resident received a council refuse or recycling collection and the local authority's environment contact centre was not taking calls.

Most council buildings were closed to the public but a limited reception service was available at Hove Town Hall and Brighton Town Hall where two marriages were also successfully held.

The Royal Pavilion and Brighton Museum and Art Gallery both closed but Hove Museum and Preston Manor opened.

The council's Carelink service to elderly and vulnerable people operated while housing offices in Lavender Street, Oxford Street and Victoria Road remained open although Whitehawk Housing Hub was closed. The seafront office was open, the beach life guard service operated as normal but The Volks railway closed.

All leisure centres were open including King Alfred, Withdean and Prince Regent, Moulsecoomb and Stanley Deason.

Jubilee, Hove, Coldean, Mile Oak, Moulsecoomb Library and Woodingdean libraries closed.

In West Sussex pickets were set up at County Hall in Chichester, County Hall in Horsham, Centenary House in Worthing, Crawley Library, Durban House in Bognor, Glebelands in Shoreham but services were maintained.

The county council’s call centre also remained open.

A similar level of disruption was also reported to East Sussex County Council services.