Row over impact of public sector pension strikes
More than 12,000 schools in England and Wales were affected by the strikes
Thousands of UK schools closed on a day of strikes by public sector workers over pension changes.
But the government said action by civil servants had had "minimal" impact with fewer than 100,000 on strike at midday.
The Public and Commercial Services union said it was the best supported strike it had ever held, with 200,000 civil servants striking.
Jobcentres, border controls and passport offices were also affected by the industrial action.
Thousands of schools were closed across England and Wales on Thursday as teachers from three unions walked out.
The government says the proposed pension changes are "fair to taxpayers" and other unions are continuing with negotiations.
It condemned the strike, as did the opposition, although Labour leader Ed Miliband accused ministers of mishandling negotiations with the unions.
A Downing Street spokeswoman said: "Our border controls are in place and Jobcentres and pension offices are open for business.
"Indicative figures from every government department show that as of 12 noon today, over 75% of civil servants were not on strike. Just fewer than 100,000 civil servants were on strike - around one-fifth of the workforce.
"This shows that less than half of PCS members decided to take strike action today."
Continue reading the main story Analysis Long running and often bitter disputes often end with a clear winner. But the apparent success of a one day strike is often determined as much by spin, as by the numbers who take to the streets. The unions see today as a show of strength - the government want to suggest it was really a sign of weakness. Hence the claim that most civil servants went to work, essential services weren't disrupted, and that the borders remained secure. The unions, on the other hand have been arguing that while perhaps only a handful of courts closed, some cases had to be postponed - and while a small number of job centres shut, far more weren't able to provide a full service to their customers. There seems little doubt, though, that the disruption to parents and school children alike was extensive - with a majority of schools in England closed, or partially closed. Today was only the opening salvo in a longer running battle - one which will take place largely behind closed doors, in detailed negotiations, rather than on the streets. Many of the unions who will sit round the table with government ministers next week weren't on strike today. If they feel the government isn't flexible enough in these talks, much more widespread disruption is possible in the autumn.
Mark Serwotka, leader of the Public and Commercial Services union, said up to four million workers could strike in the autumn if the bitter row is not resolved.
He also said 85% of his members had been on strike, MPs had refused to cross picket lines and staff in Downing Street had taken action.
"The government has been rumbled, and ministers are either badly briefed - or they are lying," he said.
The action by the National Union of Teachers (NUT), the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) and the University and College Union (UCU) affected England and Wales.
The unions say the proposals would mean more work and contributions for a reduced pension.
NUT General Secretary, Christine Blower, said on BBC's Question time: "Much of this has already been imposed on teachers without negotiation, and when we say there are talks going on it's perfectly true that the government is talking but it isn't actually listening.
"This is actually an affordable scheme, so the issue is not about affordability, it's about whether you want to afford it or not."
School closures
At least 12,000 schools in England and Wales are known to have been closed or partly closed. Unions say the total is even higher.
Department for Education data suggests that 11,114 of the 21,500 state schools in England were hit by the walkouts - the department based its calculations on data from 80% of schools.
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It said in total, 5,679 schools were shut, and another 4,999 were partially closed. Some 201 academies and city technology colleges were also shut, while 235 remained partially open.
In Wales, according to local authority figures, more than 1,000 out of 1,800 schools were either closed or partially closed.
The NUT estimated 85% of schools in England and Wales were affected.
Kevin Courtney, the union's deputy general secretary, said the union realised the action was "very disruptive for parents," and said that "we do regret that".
He added: "We had hoped to reach a settlement before the industrial action, but the government isn't serious about talks."
The PCS also includes police support and border staff and some UK Border Agency staff walked out from 1800 BST on Wednesday.
However, airports and ports reported few difficulties.
'Reckless' government
Mark Serwotka, general secretary of the PCS, said his members were left with no choice but to take action as the government was not prepared to "compromise on any of the central issues of the strike".
"While they are talking, they are not negotiating," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
The walkouts by the PCS, which has around 260,000 members, were staged across the UK.
Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude said: "What today has shown is that the vast majority of hard-working public sector employees do not support today's premature strike...
"Reform of public sector pensions is inevitable, but we will ensure that public sector pensions will still be among the very best, with a guaranteed pension which very few private sector staff now enjoy. But they will be paid later because people live longer."
Writing on Twitter, Mr Miliband said: "These strikes are wrong at a time when negotiations are going on. People have been let down by both sides - the Govt has acted recklessly".
Some striking workers spoke of their "anger" at Mr Miliband's refusal to back their walkout. PCS union members on the picket line outside the House of Commons said the party should stand up for their rights.
Strikers march down Kingsway, London.Photo: Harry Metcalfe.
Hundreds of thousands of British public sector workers went on strike across the country yesterday to protest planned changes to . As  swept the country, half of all schools were hit when teachers walked out, thousands of emergency service responders did not arrive at work, and there were warnings of immigration delays at .

Police arrested 26 people as protesters picketed on a march in London, and riot police  demonstrators as clashes broke out. Reports vary, but it is thought that up to half of British  have been affected as employees did not turn up to work. 

, the leader of the  (PCS), said the strikes would serve as a "wake-up call" to the coalition government. "It's a very, very clear signal to the government that they have been rumbled," Serwotka said. "This is not about pensions, this is about making public sector workers pay for the economic problems, and we are determined to keep going until they change direction."

Government officials condemned the strike and said the planned changes to pensions, which would see teachers work until age 68 and get less from their pensions, were "fair to taxpayers" as Britain attempts to deal with a large . A spokesperson for  insisted the strike was having a "minimal" impact and said the turnout suggested many public sector workers supported the pension changes. 

, the general secretary of one of the striking unions, the  (NUT), said the strike demonstrated "the anger and distress that this government is causing teachers." She said the "unjustified attacks" on the pensions of teachers "are nothing short of disgraceful." Speaking on BBC television programme '''', she added: "Much of this has already been imposed on teachers without negotiation, and when we say there are talks going on it's perfectly true that the government is talking but it isn't actually listening."

But despite government claims that the strike was having little impact, 5,679 schools were closed and another 4,999 were affected as teachers did not turn up for work. , the  attacked the walkouts as "disappointing and unnecessary". Thousands of staff handling emergency  also striked and pickets were held outside courts as members of the PCS walked out in protest.


, the , also maintained that the strikes were wrong and said the low number of people walking out showed many supported the government's plans. "What today has shown is that the vast majority of hard-working public sector employees do not support today's premature strike and have come into work today," he said.

Senior Labour party figures including ,  and  said the strikes were unjustified until negotiations with the government had concluded. Mary Bousted of the NUT criticised Labour's lack of support for the striking workers: "The response of Ed Miliband has been a disgrace - he should be ashamed of himself. If our strike is a mistake, what has he done to oppose this devastating attack on our pensions? If the opposition will not defend our pensions, we will."

A largely peaceful march by 30,000 protesters took place through London, and the atmosphere was reported to be largely peaceful, but  officials said 26 people had been arrested. At a meeting in , many left wing figures attacked the government plans. , a former mayor of London who is running for the job again next year, said the coalition government had "mishandled" the issue of pensions. "The government must end its attacks and negotiate on the core issues under contention," he added.


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