Mass Strike Is On: First Workers Walk Out

Protesters have gathered in London ahead of a mass walkout as Border Agency staff became the first to go on strike.

Travellers have been warned to prepare for long delays at passport control as UK Border Agency Staff join the industrial action by public sector workers.

Across the country, families also had to change their plans with two in three schools affected by striking teachers.

Some 750,000 workers are expected to stay away from work tomorrow in a co-ordinated 24-hour strike over pension reforms.

Thousands of schools, job centres, tax offices and courts are also expected to be closed or badly disrupted.

Holidaymakers and business travellers are set for a day of frustration - although BAA said the Border Agency has now altered its original advice to airlines.

"UK Border Agency has now changed its advice to passengers and is no longer advising that those who can do so may wish to travel on other dates," a BAA spokesman said.

Jonathan Sedgwick, acting chief executive of the Border Agency, had earlier said: "We will do everything we can to minimise disruption and inconvenience to travellers.

"But our priority will always be to ensure that the UK border remains secure."

Airport delays are mainly expected for passenger arrivals as a result of PCS union striking, according to BAA - which runs Heathrow, Stansted, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Southampton airports.

"We have been informed by UK Border Agency that arriving passengers should expect delays at immigration on Thursday as a result of industrial action by immigration officers who are members of the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS)," the BAA spokesperson said.

The extent of the air travel disruption would depend on how many staff decide to take part in the strike action, and at which locations.

Driving tests will also be cancelled, while picket lines will be mounted outside Government departments.

Meanwhile, parents across England and Wales will be forced to make alternative childcare arrangements as teachers join the action.

According to the National Union of Teachers (NUT), 91% of Welsh schools will be affected and 85% in England.

Estimates put the partial or full school closures at 1,701 in Wales and 20,923 English schools because of action by the NUT and Association of Teachers and Lecturers .

And the University and College Union say a strike by its members will cause "significant disruption" at 350 colleges and 75 universities.

Prime Minister David Cameron told MPs there was no case for industrial action ahead of Thursday's planned walkout by teachers and public sector workers.

He insisted the proposed changes to public sector pensions were "fair" and hoped "as many mums and dads as possible" would be able to take their children to school tomorrow.

At Prime Minister's Questions he said: "I don't believe there is any case for industrial action tomorrow, not least because talks are still ongoing.

"It is only a minority of unions who have taken the decision to go ahead and strike.

"What I want to see tomorrow is as many mums and dads as possible able to take their children to school," Mr Cameron said.

"What I would say is this: what we are proposing is fair, it is fair to taxpayers but it is also fair to the public sector because we want to continue strong public sector pensions."

Mr Cameron also attacked Labour leader Ed Miliband , who did not ask about tomorrow's walkout, accusing him of being "in the pocket of the unions".

The Prime Minister's spokesman said that managers across the civil service have been consulting with staff over how many are likely to stay away from work tomorrow, and have been putting contingency plans in place to deal with their absence.

The action will also hit Downing Street, according to the spokesman, as some staff will also be on a walkout.

Schools had been given until today to decide whether or not to support the plans, so the numbers hit by the walkout may rise.

The NUT believes 85% of schools could be affected varying levels of action, which collectively educate millions of pupils.

The Government says "rigorous" contingency plans are in place to ensure essential services are maintained during the strike.

But the National Association of Head Teachers has expressed "grave concerns" about Education Secretary Michael Gove's suggestion that parents could volunteer to cover for striking teachers.

General secretary Russell Hobby said: "It is probably not unlawful but we would strongly advise our members not to accept voluntary help to cover for absent staff this Thursday."

The PCS union said it expected other members in job centres, Government departments, driving test centres, ports, and courts to strongly support the strike.

The British Chambers of Commerce has said the action will have a "significant impact" on business confidence and inward investment.