THOUSANDS of union members across Hampshire will walk out on strike on Wednesday in a row over pensions and more action is planned for April.
More than 10,000 members, including 4,000 at Southampton City Council and 6,000 at Hampshire County Council, have voted for industrial action after a deadlock with the government.
Most major offices and depots around the county will be picketed in the morning and from noon onwards there will be a rally of striking workers at the Civic Centre.
At 12.30pm strikers will stage a march through the centre of Southampton.
It will be a similar situation at Hampshire County Council in Winchester.
The row broke out because the government wants to make changes to its pension policy.
These changes would see the minimum retirement age for council workers increased from 50 to 55 and the general retirement age increased from 60 to 65.
Average local government pensions are £3,800 and if the changes go through it could potentially be reduced by 25 per cent.
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