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Up to 300,000 public sector workers strike in Scotland Public sector workers march at Scottish Parliament
(40 minutes later)
Public services across Scotland have been disrupted as up to 300,000 public sector workers go on strike over planned UK pension and job changes. Thousands of striking public sector workers have marched outside the Scottish Parliament, in protest at UK government pension changes.
Most schools are closed for the day and thousands of NHS appointments have been postponed. Travel is also being hit. Industrial action by about 300,000 workers in Scotland has seen most schools and thousands of NHS appointments postponed.
As workers picket the Holyrood building for the day, SNP ministers will use a government debate to brand the pension plans a "cash grab". SNP ministers will use a government debate at Holyrood to brand the pension plans a "cash grab".
An estimated two million workers across the UK are striking. Unions and members are holding a rally outside the building.
The action comes in the wake of UK government plans to increase the amount of money public sector workers pay into their pension, raise the age of retirement and introduce career-average pensions. An estimated two million workers across the UK are striking, in the wake of plans to increase the amount of money public sector workers pay into their pension, raise the age of retirement and introduce career-average pensions.
With severe public spending cuts under way, the Westminster coalition has said the changes were needed to stop the pension system going broke.With severe public spending cuts under way, the Westminster coalition has said the changes were needed to stop the pension system going broke.
As workers attended picket lines across Scotland, STUC General Secretary Graeme Smith warned further industrial action could lie ahead.As workers attended picket lines across Scotland, STUC General Secretary Graeme Smith warned further industrial action could lie ahead.
He told the BBC: "I hope there's not going to be a protracted strike campaign, but I don't think anybody should be under any illusion over how strongly people feel about this.He told the BBC: "I hope there's not going to be a protracted strike campaign, but I don't think anybody should be under any illusion over how strongly people feel about this.
"If the government doesn't see sense and doesn't get back to some serious and fair negotiations, then I'm afraid this may be just the start.""If the government doesn't see sense and doesn't get back to some serious and fair negotiations, then I'm afraid this may be just the start."
Scottish Finance Secretary John Swinney, who told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme that he did not support the strike action, said he had crossed a picket line outside St Andrew's House, the Scottish government headquarters, in Edinburgh, and was expecting to cross the Scottish Parliament picket line later.Scottish Finance Secretary John Swinney, who told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme that he did not support the strike action, said he had crossed a picket line outside St Andrew's House, the Scottish government headquarters, in Edinburgh, and was expecting to cross the Scottish Parliament picket line later.
At Hoyrood, MSPs are debating an SNP government motion branding the pension changes a "cash grab for the purposes of deficit reduction rather than a move to secure the long-term sustainability of public sector pensions".At Hoyrood, MSPs are debating an SNP government motion branding the pension changes a "cash grab for the purposes of deficit reduction rather than a move to secure the long-term sustainability of public sector pensions".
However, Labour and Green MSPs are also on strike and have refused to attend Holyrood on Wednesday.However, Labour and Green MSPs are also on strike and have refused to attend Holyrood on Wednesday.
Mr Swinney said: "We have a long-term debate about the sustainability of pensions which I think is a fair and reasonable debate to have, but our prospects of resolving it satisfactorily have been contaminated by the short-term cash grab of the Treasury to increase people's contribution to their pensions."Mr Swinney said: "We have a long-term debate about the sustainability of pensions which I think is a fair and reasonable debate to have, but our prospects of resolving it satisfactorily have been contaminated by the short-term cash grab of the Treasury to increase people's contribution to their pensions."
Labour MSPs are giving up a days' pay to stand on picket lines, despite the position of UK party leader Ed Miliband to neither condemn nor support the strike.Labour MSPs are giving up a days' pay to stand on picket lines, despite the position of UK party leader Ed Miliband to neither condemn nor support the strike.
Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray, said: "Thousands of my constituents are public sector workers - they'll be hit by this, asked to pay perhaps as much as £120 more a month and get less in their pension.Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray, said: "Thousands of my constituents are public sector workers - they'll be hit by this, asked to pay perhaps as much as £120 more a month and get less in their pension.
"They don't think it's fair and it's the right thing that I should support them.""They don't think it's fair and it's the right thing that I should support them."
Green MSP Patrick Harvie, added: "On a day like today, I don't think it's possible for a political party to be on the right side of the argument and on the wrong side of the picket line."Green MSP Patrick Harvie, added: "On a day like today, I don't think it's possible for a political party to be on the right side of the argument and on the wrong side of the picket line."
Scottish councils and health authorities are focussing on providing emergency and essential services to the most vulnerable, meaning the closure of many community and daycare centres, libraries, swimming pools and galleries.Scottish councils and health authorities are focussing on providing emergency and essential services to the most vulnerable, meaning the closure of many community and daycare centres, libraries, swimming pools and galleries.
Many people's bins will go uncollected.Many people's bins will go uncollected.
Only 30 of the 2,700 council-run schools will open due to action by teaching unions, said local authority body Cosla.Only 30 of the 2,700 council-run schools will open due to action by teaching unions, said local authority body Cosla.
Most routine surgery and hospital appointments have been cancelled after an estimated 50,000 NHS staff decided to strike, but urgent operations will go ahead and emergency services will continue as normal.Most routine surgery and hospital appointments have been cancelled after an estimated 50,000 NHS staff decided to strike, but urgent operations will go ahead and emergency services will continue as normal.
The Scottish Ambulance Service is maintaining accident and emergency response, while no disruption to police and fire and rescue services is expected.The Scottish Ambulance Service is maintaining accident and emergency response, while no disruption to police and fire and rescue services is expected.
Edinburgh and Glasgow airports have warned of disruption at passport control, after a decision by UK Border Agency staff to take part in the strike, although Aberdeen Airport said it was expecting "business as usual".Edinburgh and Glasgow airports have warned of disruption at passport control, after a decision by UK Border Agency staff to take part in the strike, although Aberdeen Airport said it was expecting "business as usual".
Scottish government-owned operator Highlands and Islands Airports was not expecting disruption, neither was First ScotRail, Network Rail and Lothian Buses.Scottish government-owned operator Highlands and Islands Airports was not expecting disruption, neither was First ScotRail, Network Rail and Lothian Buses.
However, the Glasgow underground will not be running, and ferries to and from Shetland have been cancelled.However, the Glasgow underground will not be running, and ferries to and from Shetland have been cancelled.
Unions taking part in the action include:Unions taking part in the action include:
  • Scotland's largest teaching union, the EIS, resulting in mass school closures.
  • Civil servants represented by the PCS, including job centre staff, tax officers, Scottish government workers, Historic Scotland warders, pensions administrators, museums and gallery staff, benefits advisers, passport administrators, coastguard officials, fishery officers, driving examiners, courts and prison staff.
  • Picket lines at Faslane nuclear base, Edinburgh Castle, job centres, large tax offices, all main Scottish government buildings, the Scottish Parliament, the Glasgow passport office, the National Museum of Scotland and the Forestry Commission.
  • About 5,000 Prospect members taking action include veterinary scientists, cartographers, curators and conservators, environmental scientists, project engineers, forest research scientists, mechanical engineers, psychologists, botanists, librarians, safety inspectors, information officers, and scores of other specialist disciplines.
  • GMB members working in local government, the NHS and civil service.
  • Scotland's largest teaching union, the EIS, resulting in mass school closures.
  • Civil servants represented by the PCS, including job centre staff, tax officers, Scottish government workers, Historic Scotland warders, pensions administrators, museums and gallery staff, benefits advisers, passport administrators, coastguard officials, fishery officers, driving examiners, courts and prison staff.
  • Picket lines at Faslane nuclear base, Edinburgh Castle, job centres, large tax offices, all main Scottish government buildings, the Scottish Parliament, the Glasgow passport office, the National Museum of Scotland and the Forestry Commission.
  • About 5,000 Prospect members taking action include veterinary scientists, cartographers, curators and conservators, environmental scientists, project engineers, forest research scientists, mechanical engineers, psychologists, botanists, librarians, safety inspectors, information officers, and scores of other specialist disciplines.
  • GMB members working in local government, the NHS and civil service.
PCS Scottish secretary Lynn Henderson, said: "The vital work carried out by public sector workers look after all aspects of our daily lives in Scotland.PCS Scottish secretary Lynn Henderson, said: "The vital work carried out by public sector workers look after all aspects of our daily lives in Scotland.
"All of our members are committed to the public service and not one of them takes industrial action lightly.""All of our members are committed to the public service and not one of them takes industrial action lightly."
A Cosla spokesman, said: "Across Scotland, detailed contingency plans are in place to reflect the reality on the ground and address health and safety considerations.A Cosla spokesman, said: "Across Scotland, detailed contingency plans are in place to reflect the reality on the ground and address health and safety considerations.
"Trade unions recognise the need to provide emergency or essential services and have undertaken to negotiate local agreements with all councils that will protect these life and limb services."Trade unions recognise the need to provide emergency or essential services and have undertaken to negotiate local agreements with all councils that will protect these life and limb services.
"Nevertheless, communities should expect significant disruption. Services will be maintained, but may operate at a reduced level.""Nevertheless, communities should expect significant disruption. Services will be maintained, but may operate at a reduced level."
Councils in some areas have moved to try to mitigate the effects of strike action.Councils in some areas have moved to try to mitigate the effects of strike action.
Moray Council's five swimming pools are offering a special discount entry charge of 50p for children whose schools are closed.Moray Council's five swimming pools are offering a special discount entry charge of 50p for children whose schools are closed.
And, in East Dunbartonshire, apprentices will not lose a day's pay, after being told they were not required to report for work.And, in East Dunbartonshire, apprentices will not lose a day's pay, after being told they were not required to report for work.