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Brown calls strikes 'unfortunate'

Last Modified: 24 Apr 2008
By: Lindsay Taylor, Victoria Macdonald

Union leaders say the teachers' strikes are the biggest wave of work stoppages since Labour came to power 10 years ago.

The first national teachers strike in 21 years forced 8,000 schools in England and Wales and some further education colleges to close or partially close.

Schools in Suffolk typify happened throughout England and Wales. In Ipswich, teachers held a rally to voice their anger.

Some parents appeared sympathetic to their case, but expressed annoyance at the disruption caused.

And in a deliberately co-ordinated action, civil servants ranging from coastguards to job centre workers, also walked out angry about pay rises capped below inflation.

The strikes sparked memories of the winter of discontent in the 70s.