COVENTRY MESSAGE BOARD

Thousands of schools, jobcentres, tax offices and courts are expected to be closed or badly disrupted by Thursday’s public sector pensions strikes.



The 24-hour walkout by up to 750,000 teachers, lecturers, civil servants and other workers has seen parents across Coventry and Warwickshire make alternative childcare arrangements.

As it stands in Warwickshire – just under 80 schools are gonna be affected, with around 50 due to be fully closed.

To see the latest list of closures in the county, click HERE.

In Coventry at least 20 schools are taking part in the industrial action, you can see the current list HERE.

Driving tests will also be cancelled and customs checks at ports affected, while picket lines will be mounted outside Government departments.

More than 3,700 schools in 80 areas are likely to be hit by the industrial action being taken by members of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL), according to a Press Association survey.

Across England, it means a total of more than 7,500 schools will be forced to close or partially close.

And the University and College Union (UCU) say a strike by its members will cause “significant disruption” at 350 colleges and 75 universities.

Schools had been given until Wednesday to decide whether or not to support the plans, so the numbers hit by the walkout may rise.

The NUT believes 85% of schools could be affected, which equates to around 17,000 state schools, collectively educating millions of pupils.

The Government says “rigorous” contingency plans are in place to ensure essential services are maintained during the strike.

But the National Association of Head Teachers has expressed “grave concerns” about Education Secretary Michael Gove’s suggestion that parents could volunteer to cover for striking teachers.

General secretary Russell Hobby said: “It is probably not unlawful but we would strongly advise our members not to accept voluntary help to cover for absent staff this Thursday.”

The Public and Commercial Services Union said it expects its members in jobcentres, tax office Government departments, driving test centres, ports, courts and airports will strongly support the strike.