Problems await as thousands to strike

Thousands of workers in the Midlands were today preparing to strike – as industry leaders warned their action will have a "significant impact" on business confidence and inward investment.

Scores of schools in the region will either close or partially close tomorrow, leaving parents having to find babysitting cover.

There will be 138 schools in the Black Country and Staffordshire that will also close with 101 partially affected.

Click here to see the full list of schools affected.

The University of Wolverhampton will be open as usual but lecturers have been told to inform their students if they are going to be on strike.

Jobcentres in the region are also expected to be affected. Meetings were being held today to decide if they would remain open tomorrow.

Around 150 members at the office above Cannock Jobcentre will form a picket line.

Learner drivers were today advised to turn up for their test despite threats of walk-outs by examiners.

Passport control at various airports will be affected because 70 per cent of UK Border Agency staff belong to the striking Public and Commercial Services union.

Birmingham International Airport has warned of disruption.

Spokesman Daniel Scaife said: "The Public and Commercial Services union has called a strike beginning on this evening and ending at midnight on Thursday. The strike will affect border controls at some airports.

"We are working with the UK Border Agency to minimise disruption."

Jonathan Sedgwick, acting chief executive of the UK Border Agency said: "We will do everything we can to minimise disruption and inconvenience to travellers."

A rally by PCS, the National Union of Teachers, Association of Teachers and Lecturers and University and Colleges Union takes place in Birmingham tomorrow.

The British Chambers of Commerce said today disruption caused by the 24-hour walkout in a bitter row over pensions will lead to many parents having to take the day off work to look after their children.

Working parents will lose pay and productivity will be hit by the stoppage, said the business group.