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03/29/2006:

"Million walk out in pension protest: UK"

A strike by local authority workers has closed thousands of schools, libraries and leisure centres, crippled council services across the UK and led to travel chaos for motorists.

Unions said the walkout, in a bitter row over pensions, had been solidly supported by more than a million workers in the biggest bout of industrial action since the 1926 General Strike.

All bus and rail services were at a standstill in Northern Ireland, while the Mersey Tunnels in Liverpool and the Metro on Tyneside were closed.

Picket lines were mounted outside council offices, police stations, universities, day centres, libraries, museums, schools and other local authority buildings.

Unison, the biggest of 11 unions involved in the row, said the turnout had been larger than expected, adding that strikers had received warm public support for their stance.

General secretary Dave Prentis said: "Our members have taken the decision to strike very seriously indeed. They are not selfish people, they are not using any excuse to call 'strike' and have a day off - they are asking simply for what they have paid for and what they deserve.

"These are real people who have paid 6% year in, year out to their pension scheme, and are now being treated like second-class citizens when it comes to paying out on their pensions.
thisislondon.com