Information Bulletin
28 March 2006
Shetland Islands Council Service Interruption Due to Strike Action – Tuesday 28th March
The strike action today has resulted in the disruption of a number of Council Services as expected.
Residential, Community Care and Day Care services have been provided and 2/3 rd of our Schools have been able to operate normally. We have also operated a restricted range of other services, and been able to provide information and advice to the public as required throughout the day.
The arrangements agreed with the Unions for exceptional situations have not been greatly activated. However a special ferry trip was arranged to Yell during the morning to allow a vet to attend to a sick animal.
Individuals have also made every effort to show courtesy to visitors to Shetland. The Japanese Consul General, Shuhei Takahashi, visited Anderson High school today and a number of the pupils, who had been to Japan, or are planning to go to Japan as part of the Global Classroom initiative, all made the effort to come into the school to meet the Consul General, despite the formal closure for pupils.
Many Council staff have worked hard to minimise the effects, and have continued to provide essential services to the public who need them most. We have been assisted in doing our job today by the public who have understood that there would be a restricted service level.
In addition, as with recent disruptions due to weather, we believe individual members of the community have done much to reassure neighbours or relatives with a friendly enquiry or word of support.
We hope that the remainder of this disrupted day passes off satisfactorily and are all looking forward to getting back to normal service tomorrow.
Ends….
Update on Strike as at – 3.00 PM Tuesday 28th March.
For further briefing information please contact;
John Smith
Head of Organisational Development
Shetland Islands Council
01595 744513
07766 421002
or general information;
Shetland Islands Council - Main switchboard
01595 693535
info@shetland.gov.uk