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| Public sector strikes hit schools and services around the UK | Public sector strikes hit schools and services around the UK |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Strikes are taking place across the UK in a series of disputes with the government over pay, pensions and cuts, with more than a million public sector workers expected to join the action. | Strikes are taking place across the UK in a series of disputes with the government over pay, pensions and cuts, with more than a million public sector workers expected to join the action. |
| Firefighters, librarians and council staff are among those taking part from several trade unions, with rallies due to be held across the UK. | Firefighters, librarians and council staff are among those taking part from several trade unions, with rallies due to be held across the UK. |
| Thousands of pupils are set to miss lessons as many schools are closed. | Thousands of pupils are set to miss lessons as many schools are closed. |
| But the Cabinet Office said it seemed most workers were at work as usual. | But the Cabinet Office said it seemed most workers were at work as usual. |
| A spokesman for the cabinet office said the "vast majority" of workers did not vote for today's action and said early indications suggested "most are turning up for work as usual". | A spokesman for the cabinet office said the "vast majority" of workers did not vote for today's action and said early indications suggested "most are turning up for work as usual". |
| A spokesman said the vast majority of public sector workers had not voted for the strike. | A spokesman said the vast majority of public sector workers had not voted for the strike. |
| Pay cap | Pay cap |
| However, some airports - including the UK's largest, Heathrow - have warned passengers about possible delays due to border control staff striking. | |
| Elsewhere, some councils have told residents they will not be able to collect their rubbish and recycling, while the British Library said it was open "as usual" but with some of its sections closed due to the action. | |
| The biggest issue in dispute is pay, after ministers froze public sector salaries in 2010 and introduced a 1% cap on pay rises in 2012 which remains in place. | The biggest issue in dispute is pay, after ministers froze public sector salaries in 2010 and introduced a 1% cap on pay rises in 2012 which remains in place. |
| Those taking part in the action include: | Those taking part in the action include: |
| For Unite, Unison and the GMB the strike action covers workers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland but not Scotland, while the PCS covers all four nations. The FBU and NUT are England and Wales only. | For Unite, Unison and the GMB the strike action covers workers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland but not Scotland, while the PCS covers all four nations. The FBU and NUT are England and Wales only. |
| Picket lines have been mounted outside courts, council offices, job centres and fire stations across the country as well as outside the Houses of Parliament in London. | |
| Unison boss Mr Prentis told BBC Breakfast workers had been left frustrated by pay freezes, adding that "enough is enough". | Unison boss Mr Prentis told BBC Breakfast workers had been left frustrated by pay freezes, adding that "enough is enough". |
| "When Cameron brought in the two-year pay freeze, our local government workers, our members, had already had a one-year pay freeze. | "When Cameron brought in the two-year pay freeze, our local government workers, our members, had already had a one-year pay freeze. |
| "So they've had a three-year pay freeze and then a 1% increase when inflation has gone up by something like 20%," he said. | "So they've had a three-year pay freeze and then a 1% increase when inflation has gone up by something like 20%," he said. |
| Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude told the BBC the government had had to make "difficult decisions" to deal with the budget deficit. | Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude told the BBC the government had had to make "difficult decisions" to deal with the budget deficit. |
| Analysis | Analysis |
| BBC political correspondent Norman Smith | BBC political correspondent Norman Smith |
| Strikes are meant to cause maximum pain for employers but in this case that doesn't look like happening. | Strikes are meant to cause maximum pain for employers but in this case that doesn't look like happening. |
| Why? Because far from causing the government much political grief, today's strikes by public sector workers are actually rather politically convenient. | Why? Because far from causing the government much political grief, today's strikes by public sector workers are actually rather politically convenient. |
| Of course there will be much ministerial condemnation of the disruption caused. | Of course there will be much ministerial condemnation of the disruption caused. |
| But at the same time Conservative ministers hope popular annoyance will buttress support for their plans for further action to curb the power of unions. | But at the same time Conservative ministers hope popular annoyance will buttress support for their plans for further action to curb the power of unions. |
| In particular, Prime Minister David Cameron is keen to include plans for a strike ballot threshold in his party's next manifesto. | In particular, Prime Minister David Cameron is keen to include plans for a strike ballot threshold in his party's next manifesto. |
| Today's strikes enable ministers to turn up the heat on Labour by pressing them to condemn the industrial action being carried out by their big union supporters. | Today's strikes enable ministers to turn up the heat on Labour by pressing them to condemn the industrial action being carried out by their big union supporters. |
| And they also expect widespread backing in the newspapers for their bullish stance. | And they also expect widespread backing in the newspapers for their bullish stance. |
| So, while in public ministers will appear angered by the strikes, in private they may be good deal more relaxed. | So, while in public ministers will appear angered by the strikes, in private they may be good deal more relaxed. |
| Fire chiefs urged people to take extra care because of the walkout between 10:00 and 19:00 BST, the 15th round of industrial action in the Fire Brigades Union's long-running row with the government. | Fire chiefs urged people to take extra care because of the walkout between 10:00 and 19:00 BST, the 15th round of industrial action in the Fire Brigades Union's long-running row with the government. |
| TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said: "Across the public sector workers are on strike today to say enough is enough. | TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said: "Across the public sector workers are on strike today to say enough is enough. |
| "Year after year pay has failed to keep up with the cost of living." | "Year after year pay has failed to keep up with the cost of living." |
| She said that public sector workers were on average £2,000 worse off because of the coalition government's policies, saying "ordinary workers" should "get a fair share" as the economy started to grow. | She said that public sector workers were on average £2,000 worse off because of the coalition government's policies, saying "ordinary workers" should "get a fair share" as the economy started to grow. |
| PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said the action by public sector workers was about "demonstrating that they've had enough". | PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said the action by public sector workers was about "demonstrating that they've had enough". |
| He told BBC Radio 5 live: "If that means that fire stations and schools are closed, and there are delays at airports and that people find that they are inconvenienced, whilst we regret the inconvenience, what we're really trying to say is that everyone depends on our members' services, so start paying them a decent wage." | He told BBC Radio 5 live: "If that means that fire stations and schools are closed, and there are delays at airports and that people find that they are inconvenienced, whilst we regret the inconvenience, what we're really trying to say is that everyone depends on our members' services, so start paying them a decent wage." |
| Ballot turnouts | Ballot turnouts |
| The strikes are going ahead despite the government arguing that they are based on ballots conducted some years ago, with low turnout from union members. | The strikes are going ahead despite the government arguing that they are based on ballots conducted some years ago, with low turnout from union members. |
| Speaking during Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, Mr Cameron said the time had come for legislation setting a minimum turnout for a strike ballot, promising this in the next Conservative manifesto. | Speaking during Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, Mr Cameron said the time had come for legislation setting a minimum turnout for a strike ballot, promising this in the next Conservative manifesto. |
| Under the current law, a strike can take place if it is backed by a simple majority of those union members who vote - regardless of the level of turnout. | Under the current law, a strike can take place if it is backed by a simple majority of those union members who vote - regardless of the level of turnout. |
| Education Secretary Michael Gove also criticised the NUT's ballot, which was held in 2012 with a turnout of 27%. | Education Secretary Michael Gove also criticised the NUT's ballot, which was held in 2012 with a turnout of 27%. |
| He told BBC Newsnight schoolchildren needed to be protected from what he said was "essentially politically-motivated industrial action". | He told BBC Newsnight schoolchildren needed to be protected from what he said was "essentially politically-motivated industrial action". |
| 'No end date' | 'No end date' |
| But the union's general secretary, Christine Blower, told the programme it was "perfectly legitimate". | But the union's general secretary, Christine Blower, told the programme it was "perfectly legitimate". |
| "We balloted for discontinuous action with no end date," she said. "The end date will be when the dispute is resolved." | "We balloted for discontinuous action with no end date," she said. "The end date will be when the dispute is resolved." |
| A Labour Party spokesman said: "No-one wants to see a strike, not least because of the impact on children and parents. | A Labour Party spokesman said: "No-one wants to see a strike, not least because of the impact on children and parents. |
| "Instead of ramping up the rhetoric the government should get round the table, because both sides have a responsibility to stop it happening." | "Instead of ramping up the rhetoric the government should get round the table, because both sides have a responsibility to stop it happening." |
| Are you a public sector worker? Will you be on strike? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject line 'Strike'. |