A HIGH Court judge declared a strike involving hundreds of North-East council workers planned for today illegal at the eleventh hour last night.
The Labour-run Newcastle City Council had sought the injunction against the workers after learning that about 550 staff were to strike in protest against privatisation of services.
The council argued the workers' union, Unison, had unlawfully asked staff who had not been balloted not to cross a picket line and take part in secondary picketing.
The vote was arranged over fears that jobs would be lost and workers' rights would be affected by moves to privatise services.
Last night, a council spokesman said: "Despite strenuous efforts by the council to persuade Unison to act within the law no satisfactory response was received and the council had no alternative but to resort to the High Court."
No one could be contacted from Unison.
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