CRADLEY Heath and Oldbury leisure centres are amongst a string of Sandwell Council venues closed today (Tuesday May 10) due to a strike by workers.

Haden Hill Leisure Centre on Barrs Road, Cradley Heath and Portway Lifestyle Centre on Newbury Lane, Oldbury, are both closed as Unison members working for Sandwell Leisure Trust, alongside sister unions GMB and Unite, are striking calling for better pay.

Picket lines were busy at the centres targeted with Tipton Leisure, Smethwick Baths and Wednesbury Leisure Centre also shut due to the industrial action.

Halesowen News:

Having been fired and rehired to remove staff from national pay, Unison have been in dispute for Sandwell Leisure Trust for over 18 months.

The union is calling upon the Board of Sandwell Leisure Trust to settle the disputes by returning staff to NJC pay.

NJC payscales are local government payscales resulting from negotiations between the employer and trade union sides of the National Joint Council.

A Sandwell Council spokesperson said: “The services the Trust provide are extremely important for our residents.

"As a council we will be working hard to ensure that any disruption is kept to an absolute minimum and we urge the Trust to work with its employees and the trade unions to resolve the ongoing dispute.”