Cameron And Unions Clash Over Strike Impact

Trade unions have hailed the nationwide strike by public sector workers over pension reforms as "historic" - and rejected the Prime Minister's claim it was a "damp squib".

Officials from 30 unions involved in the action reported huge support, saying they believed around two million of their members joined in.

But the Government claims the figure was less than half that, with David Cameron telling MPs the "irresponsible and damaging" walk-outs had lacked universal support.

The strike closed more than three quarters of schools in England, as well as courts, museums, libraries and jobcentres.

It had little impact on transport with the UK's major airports including Heathrow all running smoothly after extra staff were drafted in. Passengers said border controls were "better than usual".

However, the London Ambulance Service (LAS) has said it is struggling to cope with 30% more 999 calls than normal and called in police to help get emergency cases to hospital.

It has urged people to ring for an ambulance only if they "feel that life is at risk". There was no immediate explanation for the surge in calls.

The LAS said 42% of its staff had joined the strike. Health unions said their members would be allowed to return to work to help out.

Physiotherapists, headteachers, librarians, lollipop ladies, refuse collectors, weather forecasters and scientists were among others involved in the stoppage.

Civil service union Prospect said action by 26,000 of its members alone disrupted or stopped work at more than 400 locations, ranging from Ministry of Defence sites to prisons.

See how the strike unfolded with the Sky News blog:

More than 1,000 rallies were held across the UK, including one in central London attended by tens of thousands of workers, some accompanied by their children.

Len McCluskey, leader of Unite, said the rally showed the depth of anger among public sector workers. He added: "The Prime Minister is completely out of touch.

"I have been to 12 picket lines and there has been a fantastic response both from workers and the general public. The Government can try to spin and tell lies, but they have been found out."

Driving tests and ports were also hit in what was billed as the biggest day of industrial action since the 1979 Winter of Discontent.

Hospital staff and workers on the Mersey tunnels were among the first to take action at midnight on Wednesday, setting up picket lines and displaying banners and posters attacking the Government's pension plans.

Later in the day more than 20 members of Occupy London, the anti-capitalist group camped outside St Paul's, were arrested after storming an office in London's West End.

The activists said they were "targeting" Mick Davis, the chief executive officer of mining company Xstrata.

Around 60 of them entered Panton House, in Panton Street - where Xstrata has offices. A few gained access to the roof, where police officers moved in to clear them.

During Prime Minister's questions, David Cameron described the strike as a "damp squib".

He said most key services remained open and that less than a third of civil servants had joined the day of action.

Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude thanked what he said were the "large majority" who turned up to work as normal.

He hit out at those on strike, saying the action was "irresponsible, inappropriate and untimely".

He added that the pension on offer to public service workers was something that "most of the private sector could only dream of".

Brendan Barber, general secretary of the TUC Congress, defended the strike action. He told Sky News it was "unfair" to single out public service workers for "economic punishment".

"An awful lot of public service workers are saying they feel they are being treated with real injustice by the Government trying to force through unfair changes to their pensions.

"That message is going to come across loud and clear today.

"We do face difficult times in our economy and that has been made worse by bad government decisions. This relentless focus on austerity is making our economy worse, not better.

"Treating public service workers this way and singling them out for this economic punishment is unfair at a time when people who caused this crisis are still paying themselves lavish bonuses and tax loopholes are still being exploited by the wealthiest and corporate Britain."

The Government has warned unions the national action will "achieve nothing".

It says the funding of public sector pensions is unsustainable and it has no choice but to raise the retirement age and bring in career average pensions, which are less costly.

Chancellor George Osborne said: "The strike is not going to achieve anything, it's not going to change anything. It is only going to make our economy weaker and potentially cost jobs."

Labour leader Ed Miliband said he was "not going to condemn" those who had chosen to go on strike because "they feel they have been put in an impossible position by a government which has refused to negotiate properly... and has been ramping up the rhetoric in recent weeks."

Workers insist they have no choice but to take action over pension changes which would see them work longer, pay more and receive less in retirement.

Refuse supervisor Phil Lane from Sefton will be marching and said: "Me and my colleagues are firm. Make no mistake, this day is needed to make the Government change its mind."

Having worked for the council for 36 years, Mr Lane planned to retire in three years' time aged 62.

Under the changes, he said he will need to work for four more years and put more money in the pot.

But having just learned that after a two-year pay freeze he will now face a 1% wage rise cap, Mr Lane said extra payments will be almost impossible.

He said: "It's getting tighter for me to live and harder for me to pay my bills. One percent is actually nothing compared to the cost of living. Bread, milk, sugar, my leccy, my gas. It's all going up".

Thousands of parents were forced to take time off work to care for their children with the around 75% of schools expected to close.

Mother and striking teacher Angela White said she did not want to walk out but has no choice. "We have to take a stand" she said, "for ourselves and the profession".

Ms White gave up a career as an accountant to become a teacher and is now wondering if it was a mistake.

She said: "I do wonder if I made the right decision. As an accountant I could make more money and have a better pension.

"And that does make me worry. I have children of my own and I want to support them through education. It's getting to be more and more of a struggle. And I do question my decision."

The walkout came a day after Chancellor George Osborne revealed official growth forecasts have been slashed and admitted the Government is preparing in case Britain slides into a double-dip recession.