STRIKE action by local government workers began today as councils cut services and schools closed.

More than 750 Unite and Unison members are expected to join the 48-hour walkout at Borough of Poole. And in Bournemouth 1,600 out of 7,000 staff are union members and could strike - although the exact figures likely to do so are not known.

Teaching assistants, social workers, librarians, office staff and manual workers are among the thousands of union members who voted to take action over a below inflation 2.45 per cent pay offer.

Fourteen schools will close in Bournemouth and 10 will be affected in Poole. Just two will close in the rest of the county.

All libraries in Bournemouth will shut as will Parkstone and Christchurch libraries. Blandford Library, Corfe Mullen Library and Upton Library will also close for at least one of the two days.

Rossmore Children's Centre and the Ted Webster Children's Centre, Parkstone, will not be open to the public and adult social services and children's social care will be cut to an emergency service.

Bin collections in Bournemouth are not likely to be affected but they may be disrupted in Poole. Both councils are asking that bins be put out as normal - if they are not collected they will be picked up on the next collection date, when additional waste will be accepted.

The Household Waste Recycling Centre at Nuffield is also likely to be closed today.

Dorset County Council, New Forest, and East Dorset Council have contingency plans in place and few Unison members.

Purbeck District Council said it had few union members and services should continue as normal.

North Dorset District Council officials have said there will be no impact from strike action as union members who work for the council have decided not to take part in the strike. Unison has also warned there may be more strikes to come its pay demands are not met.

  • Coastguards are also poised to take industrial action. A strike, called by the Public and Commercial Services Union will affect coastguard stations this weekend, from July 18-20.

Schools closed

Bournemouth:

Bethany Primary

Elmrise Primary

Heathlands Primary

Kings Park Primary

Kingsleigh Primary

Muscliff Primary

Pokesdown open mornings but closing at 12.15pm both days.

Avonbourne School

Glenmoor School

Kings High School

Portchester School

Queen's Park Junior

St Clement's and St John's

The Bicknell School

Poole:

Carter Community Sports College (Years 8 and 9 only closed)

Heatherlands First School

Longspee Special School

Manorside Combined School

Rossmore Community College

St Joseph's RC VA Combined School (5/6p, 6c, 7a and 7b open AM only)

St Mary's Catholic Combined School

Sylvan First School

Turlin Moor Community Middle School

Turlin Moor First School (closed today only)

Dorset:

Brackenbury First school, Portland - closed for foundation classes,morning only attendance for key stage one

St Mary's School, Beaminster - likely to be closed both days