Strikes by council staff are not expected to disrupt services in Kent, union officers have assured.

Thousands of Unison members in local government posts across the country will stage a walk out over pay tomorrow and on Thursday.

Four councils in Kent are affected.

The union is protesting over this year’s below-inflation government pay offer of 2.45 per cent, and employees at Gravesham, Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks and Medway councils have the option of joining the picket lines on both days.

This means a host of public service workers, including social workers, school meals staff, refuse collectors and teaching assistants, could be away from their jobs for the duration.

Unison’s regional officer Simon Bolton said the point of the strike was not to shut down services but to draw attention to employees’ frustration and to gather support.

Mr Bolton said: “We anticipate a good turnout but we won’t know numbers until Wednesday morning.

“I doubt there will be much disruption – most councils can easily cope with two days of strikes, even with 99 per cent of our members turning out, without a huge impact on services.”

The four councils affected did not opt out of being part of national pay bargaining, where as the remaining Kent authorities fall under the ‘Kent scheme’ and have their pay negotiated at a local level.