Members from the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) – the 270,000-strong civil service trade union – marched alongside representatives from unions including the National Teachers Union, GMB and Unison.
PCS member Ted Watson, who’s worked at HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) for 25 years, was at a demonstration on Trafalgar Square. He told CSW that today’s protest is “the start of unified action” and added: “For years, we’ve been trying to bring all the public sector unions together and this is probably the best we’ve had, so if this is taken further it could make a difference.”
While today’s protest, Watson said, is mainly about the public sector pay freeze, the agenda is “much wider than that: it’s the way the government treats public sector workers with contempt”.
His view was echoed by another civil servant who wished to stay anonymous. She said: “I think the government really don’t seem to appreciate servants. Private sector is seen as good, public sector as bad.”
Amongst the demonstrators was Anderson Broomes, who has worked as a chef at the House of Lords for 25 years. He said: “I’m unhappy about the pay. We’ve had a 1% pay increase in the last three years, while pensions payments have gone up 6% in that time and the cost of living has increased.”
The father-of-four added: “I have a family to support, but we’ve been struggling for the last four years. Trying to make ends meet has become really difficult.”
The strike, he said, should “send a message to government that we need a decent standard of living”.
John Beck, sous chef at the House of Lords, said the 1% pay increase, combined with the pensions contribution increase and rising food prices, has meant a “real terms cut of 9% or 10%”.
PCS member Marilyn Bayes also joined in the demonstration, although she was made redundant from her post at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
She said: “I don’t feel badly off – I was given a six-month redundancy pay-out and am able to take my pension early - but I am concerned about the younger ones. My 31-year-old daughter works at a local council in London and she can’t afford to buy anywhere or even pay private sector rent although she’s sharing with two friends.
“I think there is a real danger that the ordinary public sector workers are being priced out of this city. They need a decent living wage.”
Firefighters and librarians are also among those taking part in today’s strike, with thousands of schools in England and Wales closed as a result.
A Cabinet Office spokesperson said that "nationally, disruption to local government services is minimal", but added: “Nevertheless, it is a huge disappointment that once again a handful of union leaders have pushed for irresponsible strike action, which can cause inconvenience and disruption to children’s education and the lives of hard-working families. Union leaders are relying on mandates for action that lack authority – the National Union of Teachers is relying on a ballot run nearly two years ago.”