SCHOOLS and libraries could be closed and social care services affected when thousands of public sector workers go on strike in Worcestershire this month.

More than 6,000 county members of Unison - the union representing the public services, voluntary and private sectors - are expected to join the biggest walkout in Britain since the General Strike in 1926.

The workers, who all have a local government pension, range from binmen, classroom assistants and home helps to police, fire and rescue support staff.

A one-day strike has been called for Tuesday, March 28 and unions have warned that more action is to follow.

The dispute has arisen over a plan to end the so-called 'rule of 85'. This allows council employees to retire on a work pension from 60 onwards if their age and years of service add up to at least 85.

Employers want to phase this out by the year 2013 to plug a hole in the pension fund. But Worcester city councillor Adrian Gregson, the UNISON branch secretary for Worcestershire, did not believe this was fair.

He said: "We want the Government to treat us in the same way they have treated other public sector workers. Elsewhere, all existing members are protected, and we want the same. We are expecting all our members to turn out. This includes library staff, social services, home help, highways workers, and administration workers - about 4,000 in total.

"On top of that there are also teaching assistants, caretakers, and cleaners at schools. Then there are district council members, people who do the bins, rent collectors and contact centre staff. There are more than 6,000 people.

"It is going to hugely disrupt everyday life. We aim to close schools, libraries and there will be little, if any, social care."

The West Midlands Local Government Association (WMLGA), representing 38 councils in the region, has defended the Government position on the issue.

Councillor David Smith, Chairman of WMLGA, said: "Any strike action can only harm the people to whom councils provide services, the very same people who help fund our employees' pension arrangements through the council tax."

Worcestershire County Council refused to comment on the strike action, saying it had not been officially informed of the action.