Strike action is expected to paralyse the town next week – and the council has asked residents to look after vulnerable neighbours whose services will go.
Most schools are expected to shut and key services will be crippled when thousands of public-sector workers walk out in a national day of action over pensions on Wednesday.
The strike will also see:
> One court closed at Macclesfield magistrates
> Macclesfield and Wilmslow libraries open – but mobile services may close
> Macclesfield and Wilmslow leisure centres possibly closed – check before travelling
> Non-urgent patient transport cancelled, GP Radiology walk in service unavailable and only emergency physiotherapy at Macclesfield Hospital.
> Meals on wheels, bin collections and Jobcentre appointments disrupted
> Most children’s centres closed – parents are asked to check
> Bin collections disrupted – those cancelled will be picked up on the next round
Erika Wenzel, chief executive of Cheshire East Council, said: “We would like to appeal to our communities to safeguard their own residents during this difficult day.
“If there is a vulnerable adult in your community we would ask that people are mindful that the services they rely on for support throughout the day may be withdrawn for a full 24 hours.”
She said the council would do their best to minimise disruption.
Unions say they have ‘no option’ but to act after months of government negotiations failed. They claim planned increases to their pension contributions – and a requirement to work longer – are unfair.
But the government says it has already made ‘generous’ concessions and the walk-out could put any deal at risk.
In total, 26 unions have voted to strike on November 30 in a national ‘day of action’.
They include physiotherapists, driving examiners and probation officers, as well as thousands of council workers.
Schools and college will close as teachers, heads, lecturers and support staff walk out.
Andy Rowe, secretary for Cheshire East’s National Union of Teachers, said: “I’d expect a lot of schools will be closed.
“I’d say the general mood among teachers is that they don't want to disrupt children's education but they are having to strike for a pensions deal that was promised to them when they started teaching.”
Richard Hedge, headteacher of Macclesfield Academy which has 590 students, said: “We are awaiting the results of the ballot, and we will make every effort to stay open but at this stage we don’t know if it will be possible.”
Cemeteries and customer service centres will remain open – although delays are expected and residents are asked to call rather than visit.
Jobcentre appointments will be rearranged but benefits claimants will still be able to sign on electronically.
Phil Mason, chairman for Cheshire East Unison – and senior enforcement officer for Environmental Health in Macclesfield – said: “It’s an action of last resort. There is considerable frustration nationally and locally.”
An East Cheshire NHS Trust spokeswoman said: “The situation may change.
“We will advise all patients should any of their appointments be affected.”
A Cheshire Fire and Rescue spokeswoman said strike action was not expected to affect the service.
John Lamond, chief executive of Macclesfield Chamber of Commerce, said: “It’s very difficult to estimate in this area – the effect of working parents who may then have to be absent from work will create all sorts of issues for businesses.”
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Perhaps the strikers should ask if the average tax payer on an average wage and contributing more they do to an inferior pension plan with no guarantees would like more of their taxes to go to support an already more than generous public pension scheme. I for one do not support these people.
The sooner all civil servants and public sector employees are moved to a money purchase pension plan then they will really know how well off they really are.
I would gladly swap my private sector plan for any of their pension plans.
Come on, this is not a "race to the bottom" - is that what you propose, "my pension is bad so everybody's should be bad!"
Yes public sector pensions are good, but NOT brilliant as many believe. In addittion, public sector wages are generally lower, with no bonus', share options or generous expences packages! They have not risen for 2 years (I know many havent) however this year the average private sector rise is 4.8%. Public sector wages have DROPPED (in real terms) 11.3%
The average public sector pension (after a working lifetime during which contributions are paid) in Local Governement is around £3,500 a year - hardly Gold Plated !
In addittion, the Local Government Fund is funded, and as such the liability to the taxpayer is far far lower. If it were not for past policies allowing Councils to raid the pension funds during the "boom years" we would not even be in this mess.
It is simple - the government need to save money to bail out the city bankers, and are yet again raiding public sector pensions.
The economy has changed dramatically over the last few years, and we all need to accept that times are harder and that the promises made 3,4,5 years ago are not valid in this new climate. We had a culture of spend spend spend in this country and now we have to pay the price to get ourselves out of debt. This affects everyone, public and private - we all need to accept changes.
I expect by the time I reach retirement I will be expected to work to the age of 70 for no additional pension. I pay more tax now then ever. Do you see me throwing my rattle out of the pram because "it's not fair"? No. Will I be demanding a rebate on my council tax because of loss of service, No. These workers need a reality check.
Many years ago, I decided to become a public sector employee. The deal was clear - if you wanted to make money, you went into the private sector. More risks, yes, but far more money. If you went into the public sector, you could never hope to make the money that your friends were earning in the private sector, but you knew that your job was secure and that you got a decent pension. That was the deal. Millions of us signed up to it. Suddenly, the private sector is in tatters because (a) the country decided, thirty years ago, to ditch manufacturing and production and focus on the service sectors, especially financial services and (b) the financial sector, for reasons that were nothing but base greed, took ridiculous risks in order that they themselves earned enormous amounts of money. So, now, we are told that those who opted for the public sector should have their promises scratched - because the private sector has screwed up. What on earth is the logic in that? You're aiming for the wrong targets - sort out the tax evaders, sort out the tax havens, sort out the banks. It was they who screwed up - and it is they who are getting away with murder.
In reply to 'Gedd mc' who refers to public sector workers as 'greedy b-----s', it is those 'greedy b------' who would nurse him in hospital if he was sick, help him get his benefits if he was unemployed, get him out of his house if it was on fire, help him if his house was burgled and provide state care when he got old. As a PS worker I'm sick to death of being the target of abuse and derogatory comments from people. As to pensions - mine's worth about five grand a year when I retire. Wow - I can't wait!
Smallville