EVERY school in Lancashire will be closed by a strike by teachers on Thursday June 30, according to unions.

And nut now more public sector workers are also threatening strike action in the area.

As the row over changes to the public sector pension scheme steps up, unions such as Union and Unite have announced they could ballot for industrial action if the government’s proposals were deemed unsatisfactory.

The government is putting together proposals that could force all public sector workers to retire at 66, take an average career salary pension and contribute more to the scheme.

The plans have so far enraged the National Union of Teachers or NUT, UCU, Public and Commercial Services Union or PCS, and the ATL, which are involved in the strikes on June 30.

In Lancashire alone at least 10,000 teaching staff and thousands of support workers will be demonstrating.

And 45,000 civil services workers across the north west will also be striking.

National Executive member for the NUT and Blackburn with Darwen representative Simon Jones said strike would force every school in the county to close.

He added: “I think this move is the first of several strikes.”

Ken Cridland, Lancashire secretary for the NUT said: “These ballot results show the highest vote and most concern shown by teachers for decades.

“No one wants to take strike action, but our teacher pension scheme is not in crisis and we don’t need any additional money from the taxpayer for it.”

Gareth Roscoe, Blackburn with Darwen Unison branch secretary, said they were waiting for the government talks to be complete before making a decision on whether to strike.

Coun Maureen Bateson, executive member for children's services for Blackburn with Darwen Council, said they were providing schools with guidance and support.

She added: “Ultimately, any decision over closure will be agreed with the governing body and the headteacher.”

Lancashire County councillor Susie Charles, cabinet member for children and schools, said it was for headteachers to decide how to react to the strike, but pledged to support them in their decisions.