SCHOOLS are expected to close and operations could be cancelled when public sector workers strike over changes to their pensions.

Teachers, health and police support workers are among those taking part in a national day of industrial action on November 30 – set to be the biggest since the Eighties.

In total, 24 unions have, in the past few weeks, confirmed they will be striking on the day.

In Colchester, striking workers, students and activists are set to march through the streets from 12.30pm, culminating in a rally outside the town hall at 2pm.

The N30 On Strike demo has been organised by the Colchester and District TUC branch.

Ollie Vargas, a march organiser, said: “It is not just about pensions, but about the continuing attack on working people.

“There is such a big stance of defiance that we have to support it.”

Hospital and healthcare staff are expected to form picket lines outside Colchester General Hospital and the primary care centre, in Turner Road.

Colchester hospital trust said it would be prioritising emergency treatment if a third of its workforce takes part in the walkout, as anticipated.

The hospital trust has cancelled all study leave and non-essential meetings. On Friday, it also announced no further holidays could be booked for November 30.

Rob Bowman, director of workforce, said: “We are in discussion with staff as a collective body about the nature and scale of the industrial action and are looking at what impact, if any, that will have on our services.

“We are in close dialogue to ensure essential emergency services are protected. However, we recognise the right of staff to take action.

“The last time we saw action on this potential scale was in the Eighties.”

Essex Police is also drawing up plans to protect its operations as half its support staff are members of Unison.

It said police officers might be drafted in to answer 999 calls and man police station front counters to cover for striking workers.

Assistant Chief Constable Maurice Mason said: “Our duty to the public as a police force is to ensure high-quality policing is maintained at all times.

“Some officers will be asked to carry out different duties temporarily, but we are determined key frontline policing will be largely unaffected and can reassure the public their safety remains a priority.”

Meanwhile, teaching unions said they expect the scale of the action to mirror the strikes on June 30, when most primary schools in Colchester closed and secondary schools and colleges operated on reduced staffing.

Jean Quinn, of the north-east Essex branch of the National Union of Teachers, said: “I would expect exactly the same closures as last time, if not more, because this time it also involves the GMB Union and Unison who represent support workers in schools. Also, headteachers are involved this time.”