Park-and-ride staff extend strike

The 12 staff are to strike for one-and-a-half hours on three days

Security staff at three of Oxford's park-and-ride sites are to expand their strike action over lone night shifts.

Guards at Oxford City Council-run sites at Pear Tree, Redbridge and Seacourt will now strike for for 90 minutes three mornings a week.

The sites' staff, who began strike action two weeks ago, are unhappy about the recent introduction of lone-working which they say threatens their safety.

The council says it fully consulted staff when drawing up the scheme.

Risk assessment

Members of the Transport and General Workers Union (T&G) and Unison are to picket a council meeting to raise awareness of their concerns over the lone night-working.

Alan Lewis, of the T&G, said: "Our members have to deal with drug dealers and users, car thieves and joyriders in these car parks.

"To expect them to work alone at night in those circumstances is placing them, and the customers they serve, at unnecessary risk."

In previous statements defending its stance, the city council said staff were fully consulted and were involved in the risk assessment process.

The strikes, which were originally running for just an hour, will take place from 0830 BST to 1000 BST.

Two park-and-ride sites run by Oxford County Council at Water Eaton and Thornhill are not affected.