Open facilities

Sports and leisure facilities except Fairwater Leisure Centre, open 1630 GMT to 2330 GMT Central Library first floor, children's, fiction, non-fiction, video, CD and DVD desks Canton, Rhiwbina, St Mellons and Whitchurch branch libraries Youth centres except play centres Telephone 029 20 872087 for more information Source: Unison

But the authority claims he had paid himself more than �20,000 pounds overtime in one year and he was sacked for financial mismanagement.

"It's not about my shortcomings as a managing a budget, because there is literally no manager in the authority who would be safe" said Mr Faber.

"It is quite clear with the timing it was about much more."

Angry workers are staging a one-day strike at City Hall in a bid to overturn the ruling.

The visit of UK Education Minister Estelle Morris' to City Hall was amongst the events affected by the strike.

Ms Morris spoke to the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, currently at its four-day annual conference in the capital.

But the minister had to cross a nominal picket line to get in to the venue - already moved from nearby St David's Hall after it shut as part of the industrial action.

Angry reaction

Members of public services union Unison began their strike at 0000 GMT.

They are angry Mr Faber was suspended hours after giving an interview to BBC Wales' Week In, Week Out current affairs programme.

Estelle Morris crossed a nominal picket line

He highlighted problems faced by the Children's Services department at Cardiff County Council and councillors rejected an appeal earlier in March.

Unison's Cardiff branch secretary Peter King said local union members were "disgusted, to say the least."

"This was a very difficult decision to make," he said.

"But we simply cannot allow the authority to 'shoot the messenger' instead of dealing with serious under-resorting of children's services.

"Unless we stand up for Charles Faber, then this authority is quite capable of declaring open season on any member who gets in their way."

Claims dismissed

He claimed authority officials had banned use of e-mail for union business and hinted industrial action may not be confined to Cardiff.

But councillors have denied the claims and maintained Mr Faber was fired on legitimate grounds.

The strike is affecting some leisure centres, libraries and council offices, but refuse collection would still go ahead, Unison said.

Mr King said he hoped to minimise public disruption.

On Monday, the ATL conference in Cardiff heard calls to prosecute parents and pupils who attack school staff.

Ms Morris' speech is set to blame "feckless" parents for youth crime and unruly classroom behaviour, according to an advance copy.