The biggest strike for five years closed thousands of schools and disrupted courts, driving tests and job centres in the UK yesterday, with warnings of fresh industrial action to come.
Hundreds of thousands of teachers, lecturers, civil servants and other workers walked out in protest at controversial changes to their pensions, which they attacked as “unfair and unjust”.
Unions clashed with the government over the impact of the strike, while labour leader Ed Miliband was told he was a “disgrace” for failing to support the action.
Mark Serwotka, leader of the Public and Commercial Services union, predicted that up to four million workers could be involved in strikes in the autumn if the bitter row is not resolved.
PCS members were to start a month-long ban on overtime from midnight, which Mr Serwotka said would hit work in job centres, passport and benefit offices and government departments.
The PCS said it was the best supported strike it had ever held, with 200,000 taking action. More than 11,000 schools in England alone were disrupted due to the walkout, according to the Department for Education (DfE).
Teaching unions suggested the numbers were higher, with the Association of Teachers and Lecturers saying that around 85 per cent of schools were fully or partially closed across England and Wales.
Kevin Courtney, deputy general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said the union realised the action was “very disruptive for parents,” adding “we do regret that”.
“We had hoped to reach a settlement before the industrial action, but the government isn’t serious about talks.”
Siobhan Freegard of parenting website Netmums said parents were tolerant of the action, but that would only stretch so far.
“Tolerance is not going to stretch very far because the majority of mums now work,” she said.
Protests were held in around 80 towns and cities across the UK, while prison officers and anti tax avoidance group UK Uncut also took part in demonstrations.
A total of 37 people had been arrested in London by late afternoon for a variety of offences including possession of drugs, criminal damage, breach of the peace and an alleged breach of a bylaw at Trafalgar Square.
One police officer and six members of the public have been injured but Scotland Yard said scenes have been “largely peaceful”.
Unions said up to 20,000 took part in a huge march and rally in central London, which passed Downing street and Parliament, before a series of speakers lined up to warn that cutting pensions would force people to leave teaching or quit pension schemes.
Mr Serwotka said 85 per cent of his members had been on strike today, MPs had refused to cross picket lines and staff in Downing Street had taken action.
Vicky Josiah, a 22-year-old teacher from south-east London, said she was made to feel like a “villain” for defending her pension, telling the rally that many people were seriously considering leaving the profession or opting out of the pension scheme.
“I will not be able to perform the same quality of teaching if I have to work to 68 as I do now. The idea of teaching at 68 is impossible.”