SCHOOLS have closed, bins will go uncollected and care services will be stretched as public service workers begin their 48 hour strike today .

Unison and Unite members at every local authority in Merseyside and across the country are due to walk out.

They are campaigning for a pay rise that matches the Retail Price Index, the current pay deal is 2.45% below inflation.

It comes as coastguards, immigration officers and driving test examiners also plan to stage a series of strikes over the next 10 days in separate pay disputes.

About 15% of schools in Liverpool are expected to close and scores more have shut across the region.

Special schools are being particularly badly affected in Cheshire.

 “The decision to close completely has been taken only when headteachers have carried out a risk assessment and consider that there is no alternative open to them, ” said Cheshire’s children’s services director Joan Feenan.

Picket lines are expected to form early today outside council owned buildings.

Unison union representatives in Merseyside, such as Sefton branch secretary Glen Williams, believe the impact will be enormous.

“Initially there were reservations among some members about taking indust- rial action. But now the overwhelming majority are angry,” he said. “This is not action that members take lightly.”

Local authorities are attempting to contain the fall out.

A Liverpool city council spokesman said: “We have put in place contingency plans to provide as many services as possible during the two day strike, particularly those which affect vulnerable people. However, it is inevitable that there will be some disruption, for which the city council apologises.”

Meanwhile Sefton environmental protection director, Bill Milburn, said: “This planned action is not aimed at Sefton Council but is a result of a national pay dispute.”

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