MORE than 2500 council, transport and education workers were expected to strike today in a dispute over changes to their pension scheme.

UNISON and other unions are in a dispute over proposed changes to the Local Government Pension Scheme being pushed by Government and employers.

UNISON Swindon council branch secretary Bob Cretchley said there had been an influx of applications in the past week from workers wanting to join the union.

He said the influx showed how passionate council workers were about their pensions.

At least five schools Brimble Hill, Crowdys Hill, Chalet and St Lukes special schools and Penhill Primary are expected to close.

Mum Carolyn Stone, whose 16-year-old son Matthew is in Year 11 at Crowdys Hill school, said the timing of the strike was poor.

"It's disappointing," she said.

"It's a shame because my son was due to sit one of his exams on that day and now it's had to be re-scheduled.

"It must make it harder for the teachers because the children here are special needs so it takes a bit longer to get them ready for the exams and now it's had to be postponed until April 19.

"It's hard for the children too. They had to get organised for the exam and now they won't be doing it."

Emergency and call out workers are expected at work but most other council services will be affected.

The Transport and General Workers Union announced yesterday that its members employed by the council would also strike.

T&G regional industrial organiser Hugh Kirkbride said it was wrong to cut pension entitlements.

He said it was wrong for employer groups to say council tax bills would rise if the pension scheme remained unchanged.

"The average pension for a council worker is less than £4,000 a year and for women it is only £31 a week," Mr Kirkbride said.

"Yet the employers at a national level want to cut that back.

"We say that is wrong but the local government employers will not budge."

Mr Kirkbride said cleansing, highways, grounds and building maintenance workers would join the industrial action.

North Wiltshire District Council said its waste and rubbish collection would be halted by the strike.

It said normal collections would resume tomorrow and a special double collection would be run next Tuesday.

Schools and other services run by Wiltshire County Council were also expected to be affected.

Demands would add two per cent to tax bills

THE Local Government Association says union pension demands would add at least two per cent a year to council tax bills or £6bn over the next 15 years. Local Government Association chairman Sir Sandy Bruce Lockhart said: "The changes to local government staff pensions are both needed and necessary.

"There must be a modern scheme that is affordable, viable and fit for the 21st Century. People are living longer and unless action is taken now the cost to individual council taxpayers and local government will continue to rise. The key aspect of these changes is to make sure the pension scheme does not cost the council taxpayer more while at the same time making sure local government continues to be an attractive place to work."