OKEHAMPTON Castle was open on Tuesday despite a threat by staff to abandon the ramparts as part of a synchronised walk-out at English Heritage sites. Across the country, many workers at Britain?s historic buildings and sites marked the Summer solstice on June 21 by going on strike in a dispute over pay. Despite the walkout taking place for two hours between 10am and noon, Okehampton Castle was able to open to visitors. Mike John, site supervisor said it was ?business as usual? with school visits planned for the day. Members of the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) who work for English Heritage co-ordinated a nationwide walk-out, affecting sites including Stonehenge and Tintagel Castle. The union held the industrial action in protest at a Government pay award which offers a 1.5% increase, below the rate of inflation. Terry Phillips-Edwards, South West branch secretary of the Public and Commercial Services union, said the pay offer ?did nothing? to reward staff for their hard work or address areas of concern. He said there were other issues besides pay, including English Heritage?s implementation of its modernisation process and the enforced retirement of staff at the age of 60. Mr Phillips-Edwards said: ?The decision to take this sort of action was not taken lightly. It was very much a last resort. English Heritage boasts that no-one does more for the built heritage of this country, however it seems no-one does less for its staff.? A spokesperson for English Heritage said they did not expect the action to affect any property opening times.
