NEARLY two-thirds of people across Hampshire do not support Wednesday’s strike by public sector workers, a survey by the Daily Echo has revealed.

Of 200 people surveyed in Southampton and Winchester, 64 per cent condemned the industrial action, set to be the biggest since the Winter of Discontent in 1979.

Only 36 per cent of residents supported the teachers, council workers and civil servants who will walk out.

Yet 70 per cent of those asked backed the workers in their pension battle against Government.

Just three out of ten people supported the proposed reform of public sector pensions.

The findings come as services across the county are set to grind to a halt on Wednesday with empty classrooms, cancelled hospital operations and an almost complete shutdown of public services.

More than 20,000 teachers, civil servants, council and health workers in Hampshire will take part in the national 24-hour strike.

Robert Oxley, campaign manager of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, told the Daily Echo: “It’s no surprise the public are opposed to the disruptive and disproportional strikes on Wednesday that will cause misery to millions of people. Public sector pensions are underfunded to the tune of over £4 billion and rising.

It’s not fair, or affordable, to expect taxpayers to shoulder that incredible bill when most can only dream of the generous pension packages the strikers enjoy.

“The damage to the economy from the strikes could run into hundreds of millions of pounds.

“The unions should call them off and accept the very generous deal on offer.”

But Unison, which has 15,000 members striking in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight – the most of all the 21 unions taking part – said that the day of action is a first step to ensuring that “everyone has a fair pension and that the taxpayer is not left paying hefty benefits bills in future years”.

Phil Wood, regional secretary for the southeast, said: “We have spoken to hundreds and thousands of members over the past months.

“They are furious, frustrated and frightened at Government ministers’ plans to take money out of public service pensions schemes, threatening their viability and sending thousands of people into poverty when they retire.

“The majority of our members are women and of course they don’t want to take strike action, but the threats to their pensions are the final straw. Having worked for years on low pay in return for a dignified retirement, they will now be forced on to benefits when they retire – at a cost to the taxpayer.”

What will be affected?

Click the links below to see how the industrial action will impact upon life in Hampshire.

A list of schools that will be closed is also available.


• Schools
• Coastguard
• Councils
• Hospitals
• Police & Fire
• Courts and Prisons
• Health services
• Job Centre & Tax Offices
• Driving Test Centres