Wednesday, January 17, 1979

STRIKES were the headline news on this day, with the National Union of Public Employees in dispute over pay.

Public sector workers were set for strike action and parents were advised that all schools in the Pendle area would close for the day.

The decision was taken by a meeting of head teachers because of the ‘uncertainty and confusion’ it would create.

Mr T Thomas, Pendle education officer told the Telegraph: “We don’t know if the strike will go ahead on Monday, but if it does there would be a question mark over whether teachers would cross the picket lines.

“We must guarantee the safety of children, we can’t have 200 children running around with no one in charge.”

Workers at Rolls-Royce in Barnoldswick had also been involved in a dispute over pay, since the middle of November, but managers planned to hand out leaflets to the 1,500 men to offer a new deal.

The weekly wage for a grade one worker on the 40-hour a week day shift would rise from £75.95 to £80.40. Grade one workers on the 40-hour night shift would receive £100.48, up from £89.95.

Our front page picture showed how a bus driver and his passengers on the Shadsworth circular route had a narrow escape after the vehicle skidded on black ice.

It ploughed through three gardens in Queen’s Park Road, after the driver, Ian Cowperthwaite of Whitendale Crescent realised the bus was heading for a shelter where people were waiting and swung the wheel to take the bus to the other side of the street.