FOURTEEN days of strike action are planned by library and museum staff across the district in the battle against cuts.

The Unite union, which represents around 50 employees in the service, says the action will begin with a two-day walkout – on October 21 and 22.

A three-day strike will follow on November 5, 6 and 7.

Further stoppages are then planned between November 18-21 and December 2-6.

Unite members voted by 77 per cent for strike action and 94 per cent for industrial action short of a strike.

It follows Bradford Council’s decision to cut its museums and galleries budget by £500,000 in 2020-21 and the libraries budget by £1.5 million. The council says the cuts are needed due to its funding from central government being slashed.

Unite regional officer Mark Martin said: “The 14 days of strike action are a very strong shot across the council’s bows.

“It is a wake-up call for the council to come to the table for constructive negotiations – Unite’s door is open 24/7 for such talks.The number of strike days demonstrates how passionately our members feel about the swingeing cuts that the council is hell-bent on forcing through which could see funding for this service axed by 65 per cent.

“We have had great support from members of the public.”

Bradford Council said it was “disappointed” at the strike decision.

A spokesman added: “We are disappointed that around 50 Unite members, which is about 39 per cent of our overall libraries and museums workforce, have decided to vote for strike action. It remains unclear why Unite has adopted this position and this is compounded by the fact that Unite representatives have so far turned down a number of invites to present their concerns.

“The council has finished consultation for the 2019-20 changes to the libraries and museums services and they were implemented on September 1. No libraries were closed. We believe that Unite would be better served working with us, offering its views on what can be done to achieve the savings required in the face of prolonged government cuts and helping to shape the future of our service, rather than taking this action which will primarily impact library service users and be of no benefit to staff or residents.”