Park-and-ride strike called off

The staff at the park-and-ride sites had been on strike for a month

Security staff at three of Oxford's park-and-ride sites have "sadly and reluctantly" called off their strike.

Guards at Oxford City Council-run sites at Pear Tree, Redbridge and Seacourt had been taking industrial action over the introduction of lone night-working.

But, on Wednesday, a union spokesman said their 90-minute stoppages were halted when it became clear they had little support from city councillors.

The council always maintained it had properly consulted on the changes.

We could see we would not be able to persuade the council to change its mind Alan Lewis, T&G spokesman

Eight security guards at the sites said lone-working would put them at risk and went on strike a month ago, walking out for 90 minutes three mornings a week.

The Unite union said the stoppages were called off after it became apparent that neither ruling and nor opposition parties supported them.

Alan Lewis, spokesman for the T&G section of the Unite union, said: "We had two choices - carry on with the dispute with our people continuing to have their money stopped and facing disciplinary action for not turning up to work at the right times or end the dispute.

"We were at the point where we could see we would not be able to persuade the council to change its mind. On that basis, the guards decided to lift the dispute - sadly and reluctantly."

Mr Lewis added that the concerns remained and some of the workers were now "actively seeking alternative employment".

In a statement, Graham Smith, the council's transport and parking business manager, confirmed the strike had ended.

He added: "Staff will not be taking any further industrial action and will now be working to the new rotas."