Biggest strike for 30 years as millions walk out

Millions of public sector workers walked out today as Britain was hit by its biggest strike since the Winter of Discontent more than 30 years ago.

Teachers, council workers, NHS staff and civil servants walked out in protest over government changes to their pensions which they say will force them to retire later and pay more.

In Shropshire, thousands of families were plunged into chaos as more than 160 county schools closed, forcing parents to make alternative arrangements for childcare or take the day off work.

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Non-emergency appointments were cancelled at the Princess Royal and Royal Shrewsbury hospitals.

Unions said early indications were that the walkout was being solidly supported. An estimated 1,000 Shropshire Council staff had joined the action, the authority said. Telford & Wrekin Council said it was too early to say how many workers were on strike.

But George Osborne urged unions to resume negotiations as he dismissed today's 24-hour strike by millions of public sector workers as 'futile'.

The Chancellor said the walkout would not 'achieve or change' anything.

The industrial action could cost the economy an estimated £500 million, the Government has said, with Mr Osborne claiming the action was not going to solve anything, but would 'damage the economy' and cause job losses.

"It is only going to make our economy weaker and potentially cost jobs," he said.

"So let's get back round the negotiating table, let's get a pension deal that is fair to the public sector, that gives decent pensions for many, many decades to come but which this county can also afford and our taxpayers can afford.

Two big rallies were due to take place at lunchtime in Shrewsbury and Telford.

Brett Davis, president of Shropshire and Telford Trades Council, which is affiliated with dozens of unions, said he had never known such anger over pension reforms.

"They have come for all of us at once," he said. "It's nothing to do with sustainable pensions, it's a tax on public sector workers."

Unison, the public service trade union, appealed for pickets to stand outside the largest council buildings in Telford from 7.30am until 10am.

Members were also due to hand out leaflets in the town centre's Southwater Square before moving to Cordingley Hall, Donnington, for a rally from 11.30am to 12.30pm.

In Shrewsbury, hundreds of people are expected to gather for a rally in the Square from 12.30pm until 1.30pm.

In Oswestry, Shropshire Council's Castle View offices were closed although there was no picket line.

A note placed on the front door said the building would reopen tomorrow.

Oswestry Library was also closed. The Marches School in Oswestry was closed to students although many staff were working. Pickets were at the school this morning.

Headteacher Sarah Longville said: "Staff not participating in the industrial action are working in school; however teachers are normally instructed by their own unions not to undertake the duties normally carried out by their striking colleagues – which would include covering teaching and covering supervision at breaks and lunchtime. I have therefore reluctantly taken the decision to close the school to students on health and safety grounds."

Shropshire Council said a total of 102 schools were closed, with a further 11 partially open.

In Telford and Wrekin, 59 schools were closed, with three partially open.

In Powys, 59 primary schools out of 99 were closed. Seven primary schools were partially open and 33 were open.

Twelve of the 13 high schools in Powys were closed and the other was open to sixth formers only.

Picket lines have been set up at hospitals across Powys, including Welshpool Memorial Hospital and Newtown Hospital.

Tim Wheeler, communications officer for Powys Teaching Health Board, said services had not been affected.

A march was due to take place through Llandrindod Wells at 11am. Marchers were assembling at Theatr Powys for a midday rally at the Pavilion, Spa Road.

John Allison, regional spokesman for the NASUWT teachers union, which has about 1,500 members in Shropshire, said strikes were 'a last resort'.

"The Government is continually refusing to negotiate," he said.

More than 50 workers manned the picket lines at the Telford & Wrekin Council offices.

Charlie Tranter, GMB shop steward, who has worked the council since 1974, said: "I am here because we do not have a dispute with our employers, we have a dispute with central government because they are attacking the pension provision not just of the people here now but the people of the future.

"It is hard to attract people into the public sector and one of the inducements as that there was reasonable not "gold plated" pension provision and that is now under attack."

Jonathan Sedgebeer, branch secretary for Unison, which has 2,000 members in the council workforce, said: "Yesterday the Chancellor changed aspiration into dissolution and hope into fear."

Council worker Sonia James said: "We have a lot more people out on strike than we have ever had people feel so passionate about this because it affects so many of us".

Telford & Wrekin Council's Interim chief executive Richard Partington said: "The impact of this national strike so far seems much as we had expected and planned for, underlining the good co-operation and understanding between the council and the unions, particularly in prioritising service provision for our most vulnerable customers."

Telford & Wrekin Council leader Kuldip Sahota said: "It is testament to our co-operative way of working that the Council and the unions have worked so closely throughout this dispute to ensure that services for the most vulnerable have continued.

"We fully respect workers' right to take legal industrial action where they feel strongly and those participating today have made their case clearly and with dignity."

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