PCS

Schools were closed, rubbish went uncollected, ferry services were disrupted, and services like libraries were closed. Union leaders said an estimated 150,000 workers took part in the one-day strike over pay. The pay row is over an offer of 2.5% for each of the next three years, an offer made "derisory" by the rising cost of living.

They overwhelmingly agreed on Thursday to take strike action on 20th August after the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (Cosla) refused to improve a pay offer of 2.5 per cent a year for the next three years.

The PCS union expressed anger that the Scottish Government had proposed to cap pay rises at 2%. Three other public sector unions - Unison, Unite and the GMB - have also balloted for action over pay.

Union bosses claimed industrial action could hit policy delivery, ministerial visits, answers to Scottish parliamentary questions and operations at the Registers of Scotland.

More than 500,000 workers were on strike on July 16 and 17, bringing disruption to schools, town halls, refuse collections and libraries throughout England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

"This has been a fantastic response from our members," said UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis. "Local government workers have shown their anger and resentment towards this pay offer.

One of the biggest outbreaks of industrial unrest for years will see tens of thousands of job centre workers, coastguards, driving examiners and other Government employees join a strike next month by council employees.

More than half a million local authority workers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are staging a two-day walkout on July 16 and 17 after rejecting a 2.45% pay offer.

The ballot for industrial action will open on Friday May 16 and close on June 2nd

Members of the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) working for the National Museum of Science and Industry (NMSI) are furious that a below inflation pay offer has been imposed on them at a successful time for the museum.

Inspections of nurseries, children's care homes, childminding services and boarding schools will all be hit. Ofsted has imposed a below inflation pay deal along with a new pay structure, which members of UNISON and the PCS have rejected.

This is the latest public sector stoppage over sub-inflationary pay rises - real pay cuts

The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) stated that over 100,000 members will be on strike at the same time as other public sector workers, including teachers and lecturers in a one day strike on 24 April in protest at the government's policy to cap public sector pay to below inflation, which will result in cuts to living standards across the civil service.

The first strike in the history of the MCA on 6 March drew strong support hitting emergency and 999 distress calls and led to the closure of nearly half of the UK's 19 rescue co-ordination centres. The remainder operated on a severely reduced service and were staffed by a handful of managers.

Employer attacks on workers' pay is the main issue at stake.

Teachers in the NUT are walking out over their pay deal which was supposed to be revised when inflation rose, but the government refused: effectively cutting their wages.