TODAY’S strike by 300,000 public service workers in the North West was a resounding success according to TUC chiefs.
Highlights included the 30,000 people who marched through the centre of Manchester and the 12,000 who marched through Liverpool.
There were unprecedented scenes in both cities – and at other places in the North West – when shoppers stood three and four deep along parts of the routes and applauded the marchers.
North West TUC Regional Secretary Alan Manning said: “It was heart warming to see the public show their strong support for pensions justice in the two big cities of the North West.
“But we are also getting reports of the same response from the public at the other marches and demonstrations in our region. Motorists have been honking their car horns and many of the public were offering hot drinks to early morning pickets.
“It really encouraged many union members who were taking industrial action for the first time in their working lives.
“The atmosphere at all 14 of the demonstrations in our region was extremely orderly, peaceful, enthusiastic – but very noisy.
“People made their views known in no uncertain terms.
“The strike has been a resounding success today, with solid support all over the North West and many of our unions reporting big increases in membership applications.
“The government must now listen to the very real anger that public service workers feel about being picked on for cuts and pension increases.”
Through the efforts of the 18 North West TUC-affiliated trade unions taking strike action in the North West, lunchtime demonstrations and rallies took place in Bury; Bolton; Blackburn; Blackpool; Chester; Crewe; Lancaster; Liverpool; Manchester; Oldham; Preston; Warrington; Wigan and Wirral.
TUC chiefs estimated that 120,000 public service workers had joined the strike in Greater Manchester alone.
Across the North West there were hundreds of early morning picket lines outside council offices and Town Halls, hospitals and major health centres, courts and job centres, tax and passport offices, schools and colleges.
More than 90 per cent of the region’s schools were also closed, along with the Mersey tunnels. Emergency cover was maintained at every hospital in the North West.
Mr Manning added: “Support for the strike understandably strengthened yesterday when George Osborne announced a measly 1 per cent pay increase for public sector workers over the next two years, on top of their existing two-year pay freeze. That came after he also announced the destruction of three quarter of a million jobs in public services.
“Public service workers believe they are the victims of an ideologically-based attack, and that they are being singled out to pay the price for a recession which was caused by the bankers. On the evidence of today, the public agree.
“The strike shows the real anger of public servants who are being told by the Government that their pensions must be cut and they must work longer and pay more for less.”
In the North West, the strike culminated in “One Noise at One” when protesters made as much noise as possible at precisely 1pm, to draw attention to the Government’s unfair pension changes.
The protests involve a wide range of public service workers, including council workers, teachers and lecturers, health workers, police and fire staff, school dinner ladies, social workers, driving test examiners, passport office staff, court staff and other civil servants.
Unions involved in the North West include: AEP; Aspect; ATL; CSP; FDA; GMB; Prospect; Napo; NUT; NASUWT; PCS; POA; SCP; SoR; UCATT; UCU; UNISON and Unite.
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