AN ENFIELD union leader has warned that tomorrow's school strike is merely “a shot across the bow”, with more severe action to come.

Teachers and civil servants across the borough will stage a 24-hour walkout over pension plans they say will mean them working until 68 and increasing contributions by up to 50 per cent.

But Roger Gow, branch secretary for the National Union of Teachers, said that if the Government failed to listen to public sector workers, more would strike in the autumn.

He said: “They are attacking our pensions for no reason – we think it's a tax on on public sector people to pay for the deficit caused by the banks.

“We have been around the table with the Government and we're getting nowhere – I think when the Association of Teachers and Lecturers launch the first strike action in their history it tells you something about the situation.

“This strike is a shot across the bow but there will be bigger action taken by all public sector workers to come if the Government doesn't start listening.”

The walkout by around 1,000 teachers will close more than 60 schools in the borough, while 14 will be partially open but offer a much reduced schedule. Only five schools will be unaffected.

Talks between unions and the Government ended on Tuesday with a major gap between opinions on the pension age, bigger employee contributions and linking pension values to the lower consumer price index rather than the retail price index.

But Enfield North MP Nick de Bois said that while he understands that the issues are emotive, he thinks the strikes will achieve nothing.

He said: “I am very disappointed – as parents will be – that the strikes are going to go ahead.

“I know that the issues around pensions are very important and causing a lot of concern, but we have inherited an absolute nightmare situation with the economy and we have got to make changes.”

Parents outside Broomfield School in Wilmer Way – which will only cater for Year 12 pupils on Thursday – branded the strike “annoying” and said they would have to find childcare arrangements for the day.

Job centre staff, tax officials and court staff who are members of the Public and Commercial Services Union will also strike, which will cause disruption to services.

To see which schools are closed, click here.