UNION chiefs have urged members to unite in a show of strength today over proposed changes to their pensions.

Strike action will close more than 600 of the region’s schools, with thousands of teachers walking out in protest that the Government is asking them to “work longer and pay more for less”.

National Union of Teachers (NUT) regional organiser Vin Wynne urged as many members as possible to attend rallies in Newcastle, Middlesbrough and York.

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He said: “We’re trying to send a very clear and loud message to the Government that teachers are not prepared to accept this assault on their pensions.”

However, Stockton South Conservative MP James Wharton congratulated those schools staying open.

He said: “I am worried that where schools do choose to close, working families and single parents will face great inconvenience.

“They will have to make alternative child care arrangements that are likely to disrupt their own working lives.”

Twenty nine schools in Darlington will close or partially close, 47 in County Durham will be hit, while 29 in Hartlepool will be disrupted.

Elsewhere, 37 schools in Middlesbrough will be affected, as well as 28 in North Yorkshire, 33 in Redcar and Cleveland, 29 in Stockton and 73 in Sunderland.

Striking teachers from the NUT and Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) will be joined by lecturers from the University and College Union.

However, Darlington College stressed that it would be business as usual with key tests going ahead as planned.

Up to 25,000 North-East members of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) will join the action, causing disruption for courts, ports, job centres and agencies in the region.

Teesside Crown Court in Middlesbrough is expected to open as usual, but Durham Crown Court will close one of its two courtrooms.

The region’s magistrates’ courts are expected to remain open, although with a reduced service.

Staff at Durham Passport Office are expected to take part in the walkout, although a counter service will be available, a spokesman said.

Fears were growing that a walkout by UK Border Agency staff could cause delays for travellers using the region’s airports.

But it is now thought the strike will have minimal impact, with Newcastle International advising customers due to fly from the airport to arrive as normal.

Union members will assemble at 11.30am at Times Square, in Newcastle, before marching through the city centre to Grey’s Monument for a rally, at 1pm.

In Middlesbrough, union members will assemble at 11.30am at the Bottle of Notes sculpture, in Central Square, before marching to the town centre for a rally at the junction of Linthorpe Road and Newport Road, at 12.15pm.

A rally will be held in Parliament Street, York, at noon.

For a list of the school closures, visit northernecho.co.uk/school closures