A day of strike action against a rise in retirement age for public sector workers to 68 may affect services across Wiltshire, including schools.

Former Labour minister Lord Hutton called for final salary pension schemes to be scrapped and replaced with career averages for public sector workers earlier this year.

A day of strike action is expected on November 30, and Mike Harrison of Wiltshire’s National Union of Teachers said: “Strike action is always a last resort but, if an acceptable agreement is not reached, the NUT, like many other public sector trade unions, expects to be on strike on November 30, resulting in the closure of many schools.”

He added: “Our slogan is fair pensions for all, and we do mean everyone.

“This isn’t just about us – everyone should have a fair pension.”

Jan Hatherell, headteacher at Hardenhuish school in Chippenham, said if the strikes went ahead, it would involve many public services.

“We have no solid information on what will be happening on November 30, but I understand this will involve all the public sector unions,” she said.

“We have no information about potential school closures at this time, but if we do have to close, it will purely be because we don’t have enough staff to make the school safe for children.

“A legal requirement is that our teachers give us 48 hours’ notice if they are going to take strike action, although when it happened before, we had considerably more time to let parents know.”

Many teachers from Wiltshire will be attending a lobby of Parliament on October 26, during half-term, to present arguments to their MPs about why they believe the Government proposals are unfair.

“This action was deliberately taken during half-term so it would not disrupt children’s learning. That is when parents become anxious,” said Mrs Hatherell.

Andy Packer, headteacher of John of Gaunt School, Trowbridge, agreed that as the ballot has not taken place, no action has yet been decided, but said in principle he was in agreement with it.

“There are some very effective teachers out there who are older than 60, of course,” he said.

“But this is a profession that takes a considerable amount of patience, commitment and energy, to keep going and teach these children.

“A teacher who does not want to be be in the classroom, and who has to be there because of a change in Government legislation, is not going to be of great value to the children.

“It would be far better, in my opinion, to keep it as it is and get more young people coming into the profession to keep it fresh.”

UNISON said if members decide to strike, it would take part in the action.

The union represents public sector workers including health service professionals and council staff.

A Wiltshire Council spokes-person said there were currently no plans for strike action at the authority.