A UNION official spoke of his delight as 80 schools in Kirklees were closed by industrial action.

And Paul Holmes warned parents to expect even more disruption after the school holidays.

Thousands of council workers, including teaching assistants, dinner ladies and school cleaners, are taking two days of industrial action against a 2.45% pay offer.

Pickets were out in Huddersfield again this morning as the strike entered its second day.

Bin men, cleaners and dinner ladies are among the thousands of people taking industrial action against a 2.45% pay offer.

Tony Pearson, regional organiser of the union Unison, was among the pickets outside Civic Centre 1.

He said: “It’s a long time since we’ve had a national strike going into its second day so we’re in uncharted waters. But if anything it looks like the strike is being better observed than yesterday.”

Meanwhile, Mr Holmes, branch secretary of Kirklees Unison, said: “I’m elated with how our members have given us their full support. I would bet that 97% of our members have come out.”

Schools in Kirklees were particularly badly hit by the strike yesterday and today, with about 80 closed, nearly as many as the rest of West Yorkshire put together.

Mr Holmes believes this is down to hard work by Unison.

He said: “We’ve had massive recruitment of teaching assistants, dinner ladies and school cleaners. It’s been a major growth area.”

And Mr Holmes predicted further industrial action after the school holidays.

He said: “Nothing will happen until September because of the school holidays. But I’m fairly certain that any strike in September will also involve the teachers and the civil service unions.

“Public sector workers are upset about pay levels. All the indications are that inflation will get worse over the next few months.”

Hazel Danson from the Kirklees branch of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) appeared to support Mr Holmes’s prediction.

She spoke at a rally supporting the striking council workers in St Patrick’s Catholic Centre on Trinity Street. Ms Danson said: “The strength of your action today will give us strength. I hope that we will be joining you next term to continue the campaign.”