PICKET lines are due to be set up across Somerset today (Thurs) as the biggest strike in a generation gets underway.

Hundreds of teachers across the area will stage a mass walk-out in protest against proposed Government pension cuts.

They will join picket lines, including those at Weston College’s University Campus in Loxton Road and Worle Community School, to show their anger at the plans.

Public sector workers will also join members of the three main teaching unions on a strike for the first time in living memory.

Thousands of Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) members, including dozens of those in air traffic control and immigration at Bristol Airport, at the job centre in Weston and North Somerset Courthouse in St Georges, will join industrial action across the district.

Staff at Weston’s job centre will also set up a picket line tomorrow morning, but Bristol Airport insists there will be no disruption to passengers.

The PCS also has coastguard members who are responsible for Weston and police community support officers (PCSOs) on its register.

But Avon and Somerset Constabulary says that its PCSOs will not join the industrial action.

Teachers at primary, secondary and special schools across Somerset, as well as about 100 members of staff at Weston College’s campuses, are due to strike, as well as a list of union members at Bridgwater College.

Along with members of PCS, those of the University and College Union, the National Union of Teachers (NUT) and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers are among those taking part.

Several schools will be closed across the area because of the protest against ministers who said pension changes were needed in some sectors as people are living longer.

The Department for Education has written to union leaders setting out plans to recoup �2.8billion from the Teachers Pensions Scheme.

Teachers and public sector workers are concerned they may also be forced to work until the age of 68.

At some schools tomorrow’s industrial means if they are not closed there could be disruption to lessons.

Below is the latest list of school closures across Somerset – keep an eye on our website for the latest on the strikes this morning.

Schools that are due to be closed today:

Weston:

Bournville Primary School.

Hans Price Academy.

Broadoak Mathematics and Computing College.

Worle:

Castle Batch Primary School.

Mendip Green First School.

St Mark’s Primary School.

Priory Community School.

North Somerset:

Banwell Primary School.

Churchill Primary School.

Yatton Junior School.

Sedgemoor:

Churchfield Primary School, Highbridge.

Wedmore First School.

Brent Knoll Primary School.

Hugh Sexey Middle School, Wedmore.

Kings of Wessex, Cheddar.

Schools facing disruption today:

Weston:

Christ Church Primary School.

Herons’ Moor Community Primary School.

Uphill Primary School.

Baytree School.

Worle:

St Martin’s Junior School.

North Somerset:

Blagdon Primary School

Locking Primary School.

Winscombe Primary School.

* Did your place of work strike? Email us pictures of your picket line to newsdesk@westonmercury.co.uk