MORE than 1,500 college and university lecturers in East Lancashire are set to strike as part of the mass walk-out on Thursday.

University and College Union members at Blackburn College, Burnley College, Accrington and Rossendale College, Nelson and Colne College and the University of Central Lancashire will strike alongside members of National Union of Teachers, Public and Commercial Services Union and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers.

Unions have predicted that every school in Lancashire will close and the national strikes now look set to hit further and higher education institutions in the area.

And to demonstrate the strength of feeling in the area, the UCU has organised a mass rally at Preston’s Flag Market, Market Square, for all unions across the county.

There are plans underway to organise a brief rally outside Blackburn Town Hall before the Preston demonstration at 12noon.

Staff will also be picketing outside their college and university from 8am.

This is the second time the UCU has taken industrial action on the pension plans.

And the union has warned that it will carry out further strikes if their demands are not met.

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.

Martyn Moss, regional official for the North West, said: “This strike action will be the biggest demonstration to happen from public sector workers for a long time.

“We hope the government will return to the table with the negotiations.”