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Tens of thousands of teachers are walking out of the classroom in protest against pay, workload pressures and pension changes as the Coalition government downplays the extent of the strike.
As many as one million public sector workers are staging industrial action, with health workers and civil servants joining teachers in a mass demonstration against austerity measures.
In pictures: Previous public sector protests against pay and working conditionsShow all 14 1 /14In pictures: Previous public sector protests against pay and working conditions In pictures: Previous public sector protests against pay and working conditions Brighton Public sector workers and members of the GMB union make their way through Brighton, as they take part in the one-day walkout as part of bitter disputes over pay, pensions, jobs and spending cuts
In pictures: Previous public sector protests against pay and working conditions Brighton Public sector workers and members of the GMB union make their way through Brighton, as they take part in the one-day walkout as part of bitter disputes over pay, pensions, jobs and spending cuts
In pictures: Previous public sector protests against pay and working conditions Brighton Public sector workers and members of the NUT union make their way through Brighton, as they take part in the one-day walkout as part of bitter disputes over pay, pensions, jobs and spending cuts
In pictures: Previous public sector protests against pay and working conditions Newcastle Public sector workers march through Newcastle city centre as they take part in the one-day walkout as part of bitter disputes over pay, pensions, jobs and spending cuts
In pictures: Previous public sector protests against pay and working conditions Newcastle Public sector workers march through Newcastle city centre as they take part in the one-day walkout as part of bitter disputes over pay, pensions, jobs and spending cuts
In pictures: Previous public sector protests against pay and working conditions Newcastle Public sector workers march through Newcastle city centre as they take part in the one-day walkout as part of bitter disputes over pay, pensions, jobs and spending cuts
In pictures: Previous public sector protests against pay and working conditions Newcastle Public sector workers march through Newcastle city centre as they take part in the one-day walkout as part of bitter disputes over pay, pensions, jobs and spending cuts
In pictures: Previous public sector protests against pay and working conditions Newcastle Public sector worker Scott Clarke with six-year-old daughter Amber Clarke during a march through Newcastle city centre as they take part in the one-day walkout as part of bitter disputes over pay, pensions, jobs and spending cuts
In pictures: Previous public sector protests against pay and working conditions London Public sector worker and member of Unison Yvonne Green stands outside the Houses of Parliament in central London during the one-day walkout as part of bitter disputes over pay, pensions, jobs and spending cuts
In pictures: Previous public sector protests against pay and working conditions London Public sector workers and members of Unison gather outside the Houses of Parliament in central London as they take part in the one-day walkout as part of bitter disputes over pay, pensions, jobs and spending cuts
In pictures: Previous public sector protests against pay and working conditions London Unison General secretary Dave Prentis (centre) joins public sector workers and members of Unison as they gather outside the Houses of Parliament in central London during the one-day walkout as part of bitter disputes over pay, pensions, jobs and spending cuts
In pictures: Previous public sector protests against pay and working conditions London Striking Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) members stand outside the Houses of Parliament in central London
In pictures: Previous public sector protests against pay and working conditions London Schools across England and Wales were facing closures and disruption as teachers joined other public sector workers for a national strike. In total, more than a million people were taking part in the one-day walkout. The action has been hailed as the biggest strike over pay to hit the Government since it came to power in 2010
In pictures: Previous public sector protests against pay and working conditions Ryton, Gateshead Public sector workers outside Charles Thorpe Comprehensive school in Ryton, Gateshead, as they take part in the one-day walkout as part of bitter disputes over pay, pensions, jobs and spending cuts
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