Conciliation service Acas is being drawn into the strike among the 300 staff in the children's services and emergency-duty team at Liverpool Council (Children Now, News, 1-7 September).
Steve Blakesley, Unison regional officer for the North West, said: "We have suggested we use Acas to conciliate and the council is going to see them this week to see what they can offer."
He accused the council of "prevaricating" in the dispute triggered by a ballot of 163 members. They complained in February of under resourcing and not enough staff, leading to "tremendous workloads", said Blakesley.
He did not know how many people were striking, but the council said fewer than 100 of the 300 staff stopped work.
Blakesley said the council had refused to meet union members since June, but this was refuted by a council spokesman.
