STRIKE action by Unison members was escalated as the union members extended their weekend strikes to Friday too.

Staff belonging to the union from the town’s car parks did not work on Friday and those at the Link Centre stopped work at 8pm on Friday too. Swindon Council’s leisure, car parking and parks staff have been taking industrial action following a dispute over pay.

The council has withdrawn extra pay for working unsociable hours like evenings and weekends.

Some staff are losing £300 a week because of it and Unison members have been on strike at weekends since September 25.

Unison branch secretary Bob Cretchley said the union was preparing to ballot staff from other council departments.

“We have already given notice that we are balloting further groups in the libraries and museums departments and we could be escalating the action,” he said.

“But we did have a meeting with the council on Thursday and they indicated they were looking to try and find a way to resolve this.”