TEACHERS and public-sector workers gathered in their hundreds in York City centre as part of a mass day of strikes and protests.

Picket lines formed yesterday morning outside schools and public offices in York as angry civil servants demanded the Government scrap controversial changes to public pensions.

Outside York College on Tadcaster Road teachers formed a picket line on a day which saw the closure of nine primary schools and classes disrupted at 32 schools in York.

One of those in York for the day was Malton teacher Gemma Houseman, who said: “We are here to protest about our pensions and having to pay more and get a reduction at the end of it, while working longer.

“We aren’t happy that children are missing out on a day of education, but the Government wouldn’t change its mind so this is the only way.”

Protests throughout the city were visited by a mass bike ride organised by York Stop the Cuts. Supporters on cycles towed a container with tea and coffee for the striking workers.

However, the focal point of the day was a major rally in Parliament Street, where hundreds of protesters braved the rain to hear speeches from representatives of various unions.

Ben Drake, branch chairman of York City Union, addressed the cheering crowd yesterday afternoon.

“The media make a lot out of gold-plated public sector pensions,” he said. “The average local government pension is £4,500 a year; you are not going to get much gold-plating for that.” To Prime Minister David Cameron, he said: “We are all in this together and we are going to beat you.”

Karen Evans, from the National Executive Committee of the University and Colleges Union, said: “I think people are on the picket lines today because they fear for the future. The banks get bailed out but we get sold out.”

But Susie Cawood, head of York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, said some of her members had suffered as a result of the action. “People have had to take unpaid leave to look after children; so it has caused disruption – unnecessary disruption.

“We are about to start the busy summer holiday season and businesses need to get heads down and prepare.”


Class closures boost for attractions

ONE of York’s biggest tourist attractions said it experienced an upturn in visitors as pupils from strike-hit schools spent the day with their families.

Hundreds of schools throughout the region were affected by yesterday’s strike involving teachers and public sector workers who are angry about changes to their pensions.

A National Railway Museum (NRM) spokesman said: “Admission staff confirm we are busier than normal and we can put that down to the strikes and also the wet weather.”

Kay Hyde, of Visit York, the city’s official tourism body, said: “It’s certainly very busy. I visited the Castle Museum this morning and that was very busy and we have had a busy morning at the visitor centre.

“The NRM is somewhere that is free and people can go there with all their family, but it’s generally very busy across the city.”