Strikes Hit Services as Millions Heed Unions' Call to Fight Pension Cuts
THE GUARDIAN: • Disruption across UK as many services come to virtual halt • Osborne: 'I'm not picking a fight with anyone' • Airports, schools, rail services and hospitals affected

The UK is expected to experience the worst disruption to services in decades as more than 2 million public sector workers stage a nationwide strike, closing schools and bringing councils and hospitals to a virtual standstill.

The strike by more than 30 unions over cuts to public sector pensions started at midnight, leading to the closure of most state schools; cancellation of refuse collections; the postponement of thousands of non-emergency hospital operations; and the prospect of delays at airports and ferry terminals.

The TUC said it was the biggest stoppage in more than 30 years and was comparable to the last mass strike by 1.5 million workers in 1979. Hundreds of marches and rallies are due to take place in cities and towns across the country.

The day of action takes place the day after the chancellor, George Osborne, fuelled anger by announcing a fresh wave of pay restraint for public sector workers to help fund economic growth plans and signalling plans to end national pay bargaining within two years.

Osborne denied he was picking a fight with public sector workers. » | Severin Carrell, Dan Milmo, Alan Travis and Nick Hopkins and Hélène Mulholland | Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Public Sector Workers Back Mass Strike Over Pensions
BBC: Up to 750,000 public sector workers will hold a co-ordinated strike later this month after members of a third major union backed industrial action.

The PCS said its 290,000 members had to defend themselves against "attacks" on their pensions by the government.

But ministers called it "irresponsible" and said the 32.4% turnout showed the strike had "extremely limited support".

The civil servants will walk out on 30 June - the same days as hundreds of thousands of teachers and lecturers.

The National Union of Teachers and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers have announced a nationwide walkout, affecting thousands of schools in England and Wales.

Alongside action from PCS members - who include court staff, immigration officers and air traffic controllers - it will be the biggest outbreak of industrial unrest in the public sector for many years.

Labour leader Ed Miliband wrote on Twitter: "Strikes are a sign of failure on both sides. Government needs to get round table not ramp up rhetoric." (+video) » | Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Greece Grinds to Halt Amid Strikes

Sarkozy’s War with French Strikers
BBC: It would be an exaggeration to describe the French capital this week as a ghost town, but if you were a Parisian restaurant owner or a Parisian shop keeper you might be forgiven for doing so.

In my quarter, the popular pizza restaurant had to close because the chef and waiters could not get to work.

The boulangerie, usually stripped of its millefeuilles (custard pastry) and tartes aux fraises (strawberry tart) long before I get home from work, is still bulging with patisserie.

The baker tells me he is down 30-40% on sales because the usual customers did not dare risk being stranded in the city, and - instead - stayed home.

And in my local eight-till-late shop, the Moroccan shopkeeper grumbled it just was not worth stocking up on fresh produce - everyone was so tired after hours walking to and from work, they either did not bother to eat in the evenings or they just raided the freezer. It felt, he said, like there was a war on. Sarkozy's 'war' with French strikers (more) By Emma Jane Kirby

Mark Alexander