A STRIKE involving hundreds of public sector workers all over Bolton will cause disruption today, union bosses say.

Their claim comes as emp-loyers predict that the 24-hour strike will have “little impact”.

The courts, the health service, University of Bolton, Bolt-on College and JobCentres could all be affected by the 24-hour walk-out.

About 400,000 members of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), Unite and the University and Colleges Union (UCU) are expected to take part nationally in the protest against government pension plans.

Peter Entwistle, treasurer of the Bolton and Bury PCS branch, said the union was expecting 80 per cent of JobCentre and benefits staff to strike.

He said: “It will cause disruption, which is what it is about. The government is making us pay more money and then work for longer up to the age of 68. We have to stand up to the government about this one. Last time we had 500 members of staff on strike and only 50 people went in.

“We hope that this will be as well supported — the staff are up in arms about the plans,” he said.

The JobCentres in Black Horse Street, Bolton, and King Street, Farnworth, are bel-ieved to have drafted in extra staff from other offices to enable them to stay open, while Bolton’s benefit office, in Back Spring Gardens, is exp-ecting the majority of staff to strike.

Picket lines are planned at all three.

Bolton Crown Court and Magistrates’ Court could also be affected if court clerks, ushers, admin staff and legal advisors stay away.

A Courts and Tribunals Service spokesperson said: “We have robust contingency plans in place which will prioritise the delivery of our most essential services. These include custody cases and urgent family cases. Our aim is to keep disruption to a minimum.”

A Department for Work and Pensions spokesman said measures were in place to maintain services and they expected everyone to be able to collect their benefits as normal.

Unite said two picket lines would be set up at the Royal Bolton Hospital and it expected strong support from its 350 members.

Heather Edwards, the hospital’s head of communications, said: “We don’t know how many of these will take industrial action. It is expected that the impact on services will be minimal.”

Bolton College principal Marie Gilluley said she was not expecting any industrial action.