Thousands protest British pension plan
June 30th, 2011 - 7:13 pm ICT by IANSLondon, 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.
- 750,000 British workers to protest pension changes - Jun 30, 2011
- Britain won't be Christian nation by 2030: Report - Mar 03, 2012
- Banking sector bears brunt of strike - Feb 28, 2012
- Strikes at British airports averted - Aug 17, 2010
- Britain in deep freeze - Feb 06, 2012
- UK warns of 26/11style terror attack threats on airports, transport system - Jan 07, 2011
- British kids cannot locate their country on map - Apr 02, 2012
- Big freeze: Christmas travel plans in chaos - Dec 18, 2010
- British Airways strike continues - Mar 21, 2010
- Greek riot police clash with protesters in Athens - Jun 29, 2010
- Poor response in Bangalore to strike call - Sep 07, 2010
- Workers rally in South Africa, government offers talk - Aug 26, 2010
- Thieves try to sell 1.2-mn pound violin for 100 pounds - Mar 03, 2011
- Trade unions strike hits life across Karnataka - Feb 28, 2012
- Strike evokes partial response; banking, transport hit (Afternoon Lead) - Feb 28, 2012
Tags: airports, brunt, disruption, education, england and wales, heathrow airport, job centres, libraries, metropolitan police, museums, national union of teachers, passport, pension plan, plan london, ports, public sector workers, rally, schools in england, sky news, strikes