View the updated schools closure list for tomorrow -SCHOOL CLOSURE LIST NOVEMBER 30.pdf

DORSET is bracing itself for major disruption when thousands of public sector workers go on strike tomorrow.

Councils and other organisations are attempting to run a normal service as possible despite union members supporting the biggest public sector day of action for a generation, a protest against changes to pensions.

It is down to individual schools to decide whether to open their gates – the latest information from Dorset County Council is that more than 90 schools will close.

This includes the senior schools in Weymouth, Portland and Dorchester although Year 11 students at All Saints have the opportunity to attend.

To read the full list, updated by the Echo click here SCHOOL CLOSURE LIST NOVEMBER 30.pdf

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The strike is expected to be more widespread than the day of action in June.

Up to 1,500 people including council workers, teachers and other public sector employees are expected to join in a march and rally in Dorchester.

Leader of the Dorset National Union of Teachers (NUT) Geoff Cooke said: “As far as the NUT is concerned we have the most teacher members in Dorset and it looks as though there will be more teachers taking part than there were in the rally on June 30.”

Teachers will be joined by other public sectors from more than 12 unions, including GMB and Unison.

The day will start with speeches at County Hall from 10am, followed by a march and a rally at the South Street War Memorial.

Dorset branch secretary for Unison Pamela Jefferies said: “I’m hoping it will be well supported and it will probably be better supported than any strike we have had so far because it’s an area that affects so many people.”

The Government put forward a revised offer for public sector pensions on November 2 but Mr Cooke said the general feeling among members was that nothing had really changed.

He added that teachers did not want to strike but were forced to do so as a last resort to make their opposition heard.

Mr Cooke said: “I don’t think you will find any teacher that actually wants to strike, there will be a lot of soul searching and we all know it does have an impact on pupils.”

l Send us your strike news and views. Begin your text message with DE and send to 80360.

n newsdesk@dorsetecho.co.uk PANEL THE dispute centres around reforms to public sector pensions and also job cuts and working hours.

In a review of public sector pensions Lord Hutton said this year that those in the sector should wo-rk until 65 but for lower pensions.

He also suggested that pensions should be linked to average earnings rather than final salaries.

The Government has argued that greater life expectancy and the national debt makes the current pension bill unsustainable.

Unions claim that it is unfair to make workers pay an unfair |contribution to reducing a deficit they did nothing to cause.

PANEL WEYMOUTH Magistrates Court hopes to run as ‘normal service as possible’ while at the town’s Jobcentre the Department for Work and Pensions says it will have measures in place to maintain a service for the public.

“We expect everyone who is entitled to benefits will receive them,” a DWP spokesman added.

Dorset spokesman for the Public and Commercial Service (PCS) union at the DWP Mandy Priest is expecting a good turnout of members on the picket line.

It is expected that three quarters of the staff at the Weymouth Land Registry will walk out. Andy Woodgate, branch vice-chairman of the PCS at the site, said: “Coupled with a two year pay freeze and the ongoing threat of privatisation, members at Land Registry have simply had enough.”

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said it expects to provide a normal service at Portland Coastguard and there are contingency plans in place.

The NHS in Dorset has contingency plans in place to ensure that the quality of care for patients and service users is not compromised. The South Western Ambulance Service has urged people to only call them if it is absolutely necessary.

PANEL n DORSET County Council will try to maintain essential services and operate as normal.

A spokesman said: “Our absolute priority will be to continue to provide services for the most vulnerable.

“We will be regularly updating residents using the dorsetforyou.com website.”

Dorset’s household recycling centres will remain open as usual, as will libraries and the registrar service is not affected. Day centres are expected to operate at a reduced service.

Chief executive for Weymouth and Portland Borough Council and West Dorset District Council David Clarke said he expected disruption caused by the strikers to be ‘minimal’.

He added: “If you have non-urgent business with the council please contact us before or after November 30.

“Residents due to have their rubbish and recycling collected on that day should put it out as normal, as efforts will be made to keep services going.

“If services are disrupted, residents should take back their rubbish and recycling and put it out again the following day.”

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