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A FORT William couple who spent six months planning their wedding were given less than 24 hours to make alternative arrangements after the Registry Office informed them they would be on strike.
John MacDonald and Charlene Ward were due to be married at the Highland Council Registry Office in Fort William last Wednesday, but were told on Monday afternoon the office would be closed because of the Unison strike.
‘I couldn’t believe it,’ Mr MacDonald told The Oban Times.
‘We spent six months planning this wedding and suddenly had less than a day to change all the bookings we had made. It was honestly ridiculous. The lady just told us there was a strike and no-one was prepared to work.’
Mr MacDonald said the short notice he was given to adjust bookings cost him hundreds of pounds.
‘I had booked a few antique cars for the day, but because we had to postpone, I lost out on one and having already paid £150 for another, had to rebook it for £200,’ he said.
‘And then we had to re-book the restaurant at very short notice and were just very lucky that the owner was a nice guy who made a plan for us. My wife’s family are from Edinburgh and had all booked hotels for the Wednesday night, but they all had to book an extra night which was a big inconvenience for them at such short notice.’
Mr MacDonald said the council employee who informed him of the problem even hinted that it might not have been possible to have the wedding on the Thursday.
‘She said there was a chance that the strike would continue for more than just the Wednesday and that there may have been a problem getting a slot on the Thursday anyway.’
The issue was however resolved and the wedding went ahead on Thursday.
‘I’m very relieved we didn’t have to postpone it any longer, but what a massive inconvenience for something that wasn’t our fault,’ said Mr MacDonald.
In other disrupted services across the west Highlands last week, several primary schools and numerous nursery schools were closed, while the leisure centres in Portree and Lochaber shut along with various other community facilities. The Corran ferry was cancelled, meaning commuters to and from Ardnamurchan had their return trip extended by up to 60 miles around Loch Linnhe.
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