THOUSANDS of public sector workers are set to walk out on Wednesday in what could be Swindon’s biggest day of industrial action since the General Strike of 1926.

Swindon Council, Great Western Hospital, Wiltshire Police and Great Western Ambulance Service will all be affected, as will the law courts, Job Centre Plus, the tax office and research councils. The action is expected to shut nearly all schools, libraries and leisure centres, while it is thought that everyday services, such as waste and recycling collection, will not be carried out.

Andy Newman, Swindon GMB branch secretary, thinks about 7,000 staff would be involved.

“This will be the biggest strike in Swindon since the General Strike in terms of numbers involved,” he said.

“People are going to have to pay significantly more into their pensions, they’re going to work longer, and they’re going to get less pension – so it’s a triple whammy of bad things.”

Unions are working to ensure emergency services are maintained but as individuals do not have to give notice of their intention to strike, the effect will not be known until the day.

Nuala Ring, director of HR and corporate resources at NHS Swindon, said: “The NHS has robust contingency plans in place to ensure the quality of patient care is not compromised in the event of a number of different situations, including industrial action. Patients should continue to access services as normal, unless advised otherwise.”

Warranted police officers are not allowed to strike, but some civilian staff are expected to walk out.

A Wiltshire Police spokesman said the force had plans in place to cover key roles, such as call handling, should they be affected.

A Swindon Council spokesman said: “We are talking to the unions about agreeing exemptions from strike action for those front-line staff whose jobs are vital, for instance in areas such as social care.”

A Great Western Ambulance Service spokesman said the organisation was working closely with unions and staff to protect the 999 services and to establish how the patient transport service could continue to operate.