London, June 30 (IANS) Thousands of people came out onto the streets across Britain Thursday to protest the government’s proposed changes to the pension plan, a media report said.
Work at schools, airports, job centres, courts, libraries, museums and tax offices faced varying degrees of disruption with 750,000 public sector workers reportedly joining the strikes, Sky News reported.
Schools bore the maximum brunt of the action.
The National Union of Teachers said up to 80 percent of schools in England and Wales were affected.
The Department for Education said early figures indicated 26 percent of schools were closed, while 23 percent were fully open. It was still waiting for information from some schools.
No official from London’s Metropolitan Police was allowed to take leave, with thousands of people expected to take part in a rally in the capital.
The UK Border Agency warned passengers travelling into Britain that they may face long delays at ports and airports as passport officers also joined the strike.
London’s Heathrow Airport and the Public and Commercial Services Union said 70 percent of staff at the airport have gone on strike.
