Bradford is set to be brought to a standstill on the last day of the month as tens of thousands of public sector workers strike in a row over pension changes.

A number of unions are combining forces on November 30 to stage the biggest walkout in the UK for decades with thousands of workers in the district expected to take part.

Teachers, refuse collectors, police community support officers, nurses, dinner ladies, probation officers, Council gardeners, social workers, teaching assistants, hospital porters, court staff, care workers, police staff, as well as revenue and benefits staff, have all voted for strike action.

As a result, union bosses believe the majority of schools across the district will be forced to close, refuse collections will not take place and that various Bradford Council departments will be heavily affected.

Organisations across the district are having to draw up contingency plans in an effort to ensure vital services continue.

There will be a rally organised by the Trades Union Congress in Centenary Square at 11am on strike day, which it is estimated will attract 4,000 to 5,000 union members.

Workers are protesting against proposed Government changes to the local government pension scheme which would see members paying more for longer to receive less.

Unison, which has about 10,000 members in the district, including dinner ladies, refuse collectors and social workers, believes that the district will be brought to a halt.

Bradford Unison branch secretary Linda Crowther said: “We have had to take strike action because the Government is not willing to negotiate with the Trades Union Congress and the leaders of the unions.”

GMB, which has about 2,000 Bradford members, including refuse collectors, teaching assistants and Council gardeners, also predicts the city will be brought to a halt.

Union official Steve Morris said: “The local government pension scheme is fully funded and there is no need for these changes. They effectively amount to a three per cent tax on members in times of a pay freeze.”

Unite, which has about 600 members locally, including refuse collectors, believe bin collections will be stopped for the day and that household waste sites will be shut.

Spokesman Mark Fieldhouse said: “This is not about disruption. This is all about our members protecting their pensions.”

The NASUWT is the latest teaching union to back the strikes. Spokesman Pam Milner said there had been a “really good” turn-out of 40 per cent of members wanting to strike.

She said: “Because the NAHT have also said they will strike, I think a lot of schools will close on that day. I don’t really see any way round it unless head teachers decide not to strike.”

Stuart Herdson, branch secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, which has 1,000 members across the district, said they would be holding a rally at the Hilton on November 30.

Health trusts in the district are in discussions with union representatives and planning to minimise disruption to services.

A Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust spokesman said: “We are discussing with our unions arrangements for November 30 to ensure that patient safety and levels of care are not compromised by any industrial action. Contingency plans will be in place to minimise disruption to services.”

Christine Miles, director of operations at Airedale General Hospital, said: “We are looking to provide the majority of our services as normal on November 30 and all our emergency and acute services will be in operation.