Council services across North Lanarkshire are set to be affected this week (Wednesday, 20 August) as public sector workers across Scotland go on strike over national pay negotiations.

Three trade unions have announced a one day all-out strike, which will have the potential to affect every council service across the country, including North Lanarkshire Council. The council is working to minimise the impact of the strike and will be prioritising the continuation of essential services. This includes:

• The Meals on Wheels service will continue for vulnerable residents who receive the service daily, while there will be emergency catering cover in the council's residential care facilities.
• Residential homes for older people and residential children's units will operate with minimum cover.
• Minimal homecare services will be in operation during the industrial action. In the event of an emergency, please call the social work number below.
• The community alarms service will remain operative for emergency situations; The emergency repairs service and social work services will respond to urgent and priority calls.
• All primary and secondary schools will be open as usual and mainstream school bus services will continue to operate.
• Nurseries, special needs schools, libraries, museums and community centres will all be closed on the day of the industrial action.
• There will be no school crossing patrol officers on duty on the day of industrial action. Parents are advised to ensure they have appropriate supervision in place for children crossing roads.
• No uplift of domestic or commercial waste by cleansing services.

The Environmental Services Committees scheduled for that day has now been rearranged to Monday, 25 August at 2pm.

Gavin Whitefield, Chief executive of North Lanarkshire Council, said: "While this is very much a national issue, affecting councils right across the country, we are committed to doing all we can to minimise disruption to local services in North Lanarkshire on 20 August.

"As details of the services affected become clearer we will pass that information on to service users, keeping residents as fully informed as possible. The situation however will be extremely changeable, and I would urge anyone who intends to use a council service on Wednesday to check its availability beforehand."

Emergency Housing and Social Work services can be contacted on 01698 332139, 332114 or 332137 between 8.45am and 4.45pm. West of Scotland Social Work Services can be contacted on 0800 811505 after office hours.