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17:00: We've signed off from live blogging for the day.
See how 30 November unfolded below.
16:55, message from UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis
"Today you made history. Every single UNISON member supporting the day of action has played their part in this fantastic day.
"UNISON members, mostly women, many low-paid and many taking strike action for the first time ever - stood up and said, with quiet resolve, enough is enough.
"Our members work every day of every year to provide the services our communities rely on. Many work behind the scenes in schools, hospitals, town halls, libraries and a thousand other workplaces unseen by the media and politicians.
"But today they made their presence felt and their voices heard throughout the UK.
"They told politicians that they would not stand by and see their pensions attacked and undermined and they would not be made to pay for the crisis caused by speculators and bankers.
"A historic day indeed. A day which must make the government think again and negotiate a fair deal on pensions for our members. A great day for UNISON and my proudest day as your general secretary."
16:48, message from Sharon Lane
At official picket at Ysbyty tri chwm ebbw vale
16:33, Manchester: All out in the North West
Pickets were out bright and early in the North West as UNISON members joined the largest co-ordinated industrial action seen since 1926.
They appeared from 6.30am outside hospitals, health centres, town halls, libraries, schools, police stations, and courts, in every town and village from Crewe to Carlisle.
The mood among pickets was determined and optimistic. Torrential rain and gale force winds swept across the region on Tuesday night but gave way to a human force UNISON members expressing their anger at government ministers' attempts to make them pay more, work longer and get less.
There was a great response from out members in all sectors to the strike call. In addition UNISON health workers ensured that emergency cover was provided in areas of critical care.
There were 12 marches across the region. The two largest were held in Liverpool, where 15,000 marched through the city. In Manchester one of the biggest demonstrations the city has seen in years saw over 35,000 walk from Liverpool road in the city centre to Whitworth Park opposite the region's biggest hospital.
The marchers' ranks were swollen by large numbers of doctors and nurses from the hospital who wanted to show solidarity with our cause. There was a massive display from UNISON branches and members.
Kevan Nelson the newly appointed regional secretary addressed the rally saying that Manchester had spoken and that the government must listen.
This was an historic and magnificent day where the government would be unwise to ignore. UNISON member Ella Legg from Salford Hospital branch who has only recently become active in the union spoke passionately for her profession, occupationally therapy, the NHS and for a decent pension. She received a huge ovation from the crowd.
16:22, Stoke: Message from Karen Thorley
"Just back from the rally at the King's Hall Civic Centre in Stoke. Great turnout from a large number of unions. Good to see so many workers from so many professions represented there!"
16:20, London: 20,000 march to Parliament
Twenty thousand public service workers marched to parliament this afternoon, bringing the day of action in London to a passionate crescendo.
Speaking from the stage, UNISON's London regional convenor Gloria Hanson told the crowd that they were taking part in a "historic day".
Ms Hanson, who works for Newham council, said that the authority had supported her and her colleagues 100% in the dispute - echoing a common message of the day.
Then she added a message for education secretary Michael Gove: "You have got a bloody cheek. We have not taken the action to strike today lightly. We do not have gold-plated pensions. We are not stopping the financial recovery.
"You are out of order. The government is not listening. It’s not fair. And it's not right."
Resting in the crowd after a long day of campaigning was retired member Desrene Martin.
Ms Martin already has her pension, but felt "very, very passionately" that she should support her younger members today. "I want them to get a better pension than I have, not a worse one," said the 65-year-old, who used to work for Lewisham council.
"I struggle with my pension every week," she added. "Sometimes you have to cut back on food, just so that you can pay for your utilities. So I’m very worried about workers today. They are going to be left so vulnerable."
16:14, Milton Keynes: Message from Jane Jolley
"As a teaching assistant I'm out on strike today and attended a rally at Milton Keynes along with a colleague and many other woman who supported the strike.
"The atmosphere was great and it was interesting seeing people's reactions as we marched round the shopping centre. If
we have managed to capture a handful of people and draw their attention to the catastrophic changes to their pensions then a brilliant job as been done."
16:12, St Helens: Message from Anne McCormack
"Great show of solidarity on St Helens College UNISON picket with support from CWU, Unite and NAPO. Good luck to all."
16:02, Birmingham: Dave Prentis tells rally 'this is the day we turned the tide'
Dave Prentis brought a packed National Indoor Arena to its feet this afternoon as he praised workers from across the public services for taking action to protect their pensions.
And on what he described as an historic day, he reiterated the call to make the bankers pay for the financial crisis that they caused - not those people providing vital public services.
Mr Prentis told a packed meeting that what they had done today would make a big difference - that "this is the day we turned the tide", and he urged them to "take heart, take courage".
And TUC general secretary Brendan Barber condemned the situation where "those who caused the deficit are getting off", adding that the government had "scrapped the bankers' tax and replaced it with a teachers' tax, a nurses' tax, a dinnerladies' tax and a lollipop ladies' tax".
"If you need extra money," he said, "what about a Robin Hood tax?"
15:58, Nottingham: 'We can win'
"This is not public service workers against the users of public services. This is public service workers alongside users," UNISON's head of local government Heather Wakefield told a packed rally in Nottingham.
Ms Wakefield praised protesters on their day of action but warned of a long and hard struggle ahead.
She told the crowd at the city's Albert Hall: "Mrs Thatcher had the miners and Mr Cameron is after the public sector trade unions, alongside your pensions."
Ms Wakefield said it was critical that union members kept up the pressure against government ministers.
"This is a fantastic day for us, for public service trade unions but it is a day that should not have had to happen...
"This attack on your pensions is nothing more than an ideological attack from a government hell bent on destroying our public services."
She warned: "We have to be very careful… this government, people, is coming for more."
She called on union members to carry on the fight and said it was vital for the unions to get stronger and bigger, with every member of every public service union lobbying MPs and councillors.
Speaking to both the crowd in the hall and to supporters watching outside on a giant screen, Ms Wakefield pledged UNISON’s support for strikers: "UNISON is determined to stick to the fight with all the other public service unions. It may be more strikes but what it does have to mean is we need to get out there and do some of the basics of campaigning."
She warned that the female workforce in communities, who cared for children and the sick, were particularly under attack. But there was still reason for hope: "This is a strike and this is a struggle we can win. We have come a long way."
Ms Wakefield stated that there is enough money in the pension pot to go round. And she pointed out that some pension issues with government ministers had already been won.
To cheers from the crowd, she said they had taken part in the biggest strike the UK had seen since 1926, with support action going on all over Europe, including Portugal, France and Greece.
15:42, Brighton: Rally takes its place in history
UNISON assistant general secretary Karen Jennings told a cheering Brighton rally: "This is history in the making.
"Today you are part of a democratic movement. There are nearly three million people across this land out doing the same as you."
And the crowd were further buoyed by her parting message: "Go in peace - and I'll see you again if this government doesn’t come to heel!"
Despite the wind and bursts of rain, UNISON members had kept their spirits up as they marched to the rally side by side with probation officers, university lecturers, teachers and bus drivers from some of the 30 unions out on strike today.
As they approached the rally, the mood was calm but determined to make their anger known to ministers.
Occupational therapist Sarah Pond reflected the mood with her observation that “it might take more than one day of action, but if we get enough public support that'll make a difference. We need to make our voices heard."
The rally was encouraged by a message of international solidarity from the US teamsters' union, with a visiting official proclaiming: "We stand beside you. Your fight is our fight. Together we will prevail!"
And UNISON Brighton and Hove NHS rep Steve McQueen spoke on behalf of his fellow workers in declaring that "we don’t want to strike, but if we don’t there won't be any public services left worth saving!"
Among the many UNISON members present were a group of police staff who had never been on strike before, prompting police staff rep Emma Swann to comment: "It was a huge decision for us to strike.
"We're marching past our colleagues today, but they are very supportive of us. There’s the feeling that they would join us if they could, so in a way we're doing this for them."
An estimated 35,000 marched through the streets of Manchester this afternoon - just one of a number of massive marches and rallies in cities and town up and down the UK.
15:32, Birmingham: Action is empowering
"On a day-to-day basis, everybody's already tightened their belts after the pay freezes," says Jo from Birmingham Women's Hospital.
"But it means less treats for the kids ... You have to think if you can afford to send her on school trips. It changes your everyday life, because you have to watch every penny."
Jo has never been on strike before, but enough is enough: married, with a daughter of nine, she points out that she's not the only parent facing such decisions.
But she says taking action is empowering - together with the support she's received from friends who work in the private sector and face similar financial challenges.
"But then they've had a balanced view," she explains. "They've not just had what they've read in the papers, but they've listened to me too, and then made up their minds."
After early-morning picket duty, Jo joined fellow UNISON members in marching through Birmingham city centre.
The council had hiked the fees for closing roads to £10,000 - yet only recently had allowed the EDL to meet in the city for free.
But trade unionists from across the public services united to march in their thousands anyway. And among them was a now-familiar sea of purple and green, as UNISON members like Jo stood up and said: enough is enough.
15:29, Nottingham: Workers march for pensions justice
Workers united to march through Nottingham for justice over pensions today.
They came with babies in buggies, bikes and dogs in a mass show of solidarity for the day of action.
Health workers, teachers and firemen walked through the lunchtime sunshine as the song 'Let's get together' pumped out over a sound system.
It was a vibrant, noisy protest as marchers blew vuvuzelas and whistles and banged drums, surrounded by union balloons, flags and placards – all with a clear message: 'Everyone deserves a decent pension'.
At the head of the march, which ended in a rally at Nottingham's Albert Hall, were healthcare assistants from the City Hospital's dialysis unit. UNISON member Sue Hilton, an NHS worker for 30 years, had earlier been on the picket line at her workplace.
"I am worried about pensions," she said, "and I do not think the government will stop there – they will go for everything else. I am 57 now and thought I would retire at 60 and now it is 66."
15:20, Nottingham: Statement from Cllr Jon Collins, Leader of Nottingham City Council
"I understand the reasons why many staff feel the need to strike. I for one will not cross the picket line, and expect no members of the Labour Group to cross either.
"I'm disappointed the government has let the issue get this far, it should never have got to this stage. While the focus of strikes is pensions the bigger underlying issue is the depth and speed of cuts.
"Public sector workers play a vital role in our society and have a massive impact on the local economy. The almost daily attack on their work, highlighted by the City Council needing to make £60m cuts last year and £20m next year, is doing damage to this City and to its economy.
"Public sector workers are being unfairly targeted and denigrated by the government, and cities such as Nottingham are being hit hardest too."
15:13, Cambridge: Reality of life on 'gold-plated' pension
"I retired on my gold-plated pension and had to come back to work again because it is not enough to live on. After 15 years as a medical secretary my pension is just over £250 a month – that plus my state pension just about pays my rent," NHS worker Carol Proctor said as she rallied for pensions fairness in Cambridge.
The communications officer at UNISON Cambridge health branch said that she had found it difficult to explain the pensions issues to members but once they understood the issues they were "incensed".
"The Labour government pensions review has done everything that needed to be done to public sector pensions. It is difficult to get across to members that what the government ministers are proposing is a further unnecessary measure. But once they do understand it they are horrified.
"I think there will be log-jam of older people hanging on to their jobs for dear life and so not freeing up openings for young people who will have no jobs and have to live on benefits. So there will be no savings in the end.
"I am angered that MPs' pensions after 15 years are over twice as much as a band 6 nurses' pension after 40 years."
All the main entrances to Addenbrooke's hospital were picketed this morning, except for A&E and oncology, which the unions agreed not to picket.
Ms Proctor added: "The trust have been very good and have allowed us to picket on the premises. We regret having to take action, but no way is this aimed at the patients or the trust.
"It seems to me that government ministers have no intention of listening. They want a fight," she says. "It's nonsense that we're all in it together."
15:09, Leeds: 'We are being scapegoated'
Among the UNISON members at the Leeds rally were three friends - Vicky Dean, Pamela Carr-Dixon, and Shabana Azam.
Vicky said: "I am an ex council worker. I am a housing support worker. My job was transferred to the voluntary sector. I'm a UNISON rep and I'm on strike today.
"I can't afford a pension, but I'm out in support of my colleagues. That is why I am out today. We all need to stick together and support each other.
"It won't be easy, but I couldn't go to work today. I am here to support everyone else."
Pamela added: "I'm a project manager for housing support. I had worked for Leeds City Council for 16 years, but I was transferred with Vicky to an organisation out in the voluntary sector three years ago.
"I have been a loyal member of the council workforce. I didn't transfer to the voluntary sector through choice.
"I have got a pension. I paid into it for 19 years.
"We have all seen massive cuts occurring. Our salaries in real terms have decreased. Our hours have increased.
"Whatever is going on with our pensions is a smokescreen. Most of our people are low paid.
"It is not local authority pensions that have left a big hole in government coffers. It's the way they spend money, like the Private Finance Initiative."
Under PFI private firms construct public buildings for public services, such as hospitals and schools.
The taxpayer pays for the construction, with interest, spread over 20 years or more. But when the time is up, ownership of the buildings remains with the private firm.
"The returns to the private sector for PFI are massive," said Pamela.
"So now what they are doing is creating a life of poverty for people. We are reliant on our pensions for our old age."
The last of the three friends, Shabana, said: "We are being targeted. Why are we getting punished? At the end of the day we don't get much. There's nothing there to make people think we are getting more than the private sector. In fact we are being scapegoated.
"People need to wake up and take a step back, and look at what is going on here."
15:01, Southampton: Message of support from John Denham
John Denham, Labour MP for Southampton Itchen sent the following message to the strike rally in Southampton today: "I've got huge sympathy for those people whose lives are being disrupted today.
"But I know the staff who have closed schools today - including my own son's school - are the same people that we, as parents trust and value, day in day out, to give our children school dinners, keep them safe in the playground, and teach them well.
"The health workers are the same people who have looked after me and my family when we've had accidents or been unwell.
"So I know you wouldn't have taken this action if you didn't feel you have been put in an impossible position.
"Put in an impossible position by a government that has refused to negotiate properly, and has imposed a 3% tax rise on some of the lowest paid workers in the country.
"There will have to be changes as we all live longer, but instead of negotiating properly, the government has just been ramping up the rhetoric.
"So whether people have had to find ways to manage today, or whether they're taking industrial action, it's the government's failure that has led to the strikes today; just as it's the failure of their economic policies which is hitting every family in the country."
14:55, Yorkshire and Humberside:
UNISON Yorkshire and Humberside regional manager Pam Johnson told BBC News that the strike is not aimed at disrupting NHS services.
"Nurses, porters, catering staff and others are all out today. But we have tried to minimise disruption to patients. Patients are not who we are aiming our action at. We need them to understand our case on pensions. It is the government who we need to make listen. So that they come back to the negotiating table and give us a deal."
14:50, Scotland:
Thanks to member of public at Wishaw Hosp who supplied hot sausage rolls to pickets
14:45, London: Ambulance staff stand together
Staff at the London Ambulance Service headquarters were among the first on the picket lines this morning – lighting their brazier at midnight.
Twelve hours on, David Lang, UNISON's rep for 150 members at three stations, is still going strong.
In fact, he has been in the same spot organising his troops in Waterloo since 1pm on Tuesday, 24 hours ago.
"It's my first strike. And it's been quite novel and rewarding. I couldn't be happier with how everyone has responded."
Mr Lang says he and his colleagues were united in their surprise at the government's assertion that the NHS pension scheme – £2billion in the black – was in need of extra contributions.
"I now have got to work till I'm 66. Apparently, younger members are going to have to work till they're 69. This is a tough job, with a lot of lifting of patients. As far as I'm concerned paramedics should be given the same consideration as police and firemen, who retire at 60. This is putting us at risk, and patients at risk. A 69-year-old hauling a person up the stairs is absurd. No-one has thought about that."
The London ambulance staff made sure that there was plenty of cover for emergency calls, he says.
"We could not just walk out and leave Londoners without an ambulance service. We have a duty of care. We do this because we love it. Although we reduced cover, we still had enough people to answer calls."
Still on his feet after a day, with another 12 hours until the picket ends at midnight, Mr Lang says he has been buoyed by the camaraderie of his colleagues.
"We've lost a bit of that camaraderie over the years, because of the work and the pressure put on us. We don't always get enough time to talk with each other and discuss jobs, including those difficult jobs that affect us.
"This has given us a chance to catch up and socialise and see how people are."
14:40, Glasgow: 10,000 descend on Barrowlands
More than 10,000 trade unionists and supporters marched through the streets of Glasgow in defence of pensions fairness this afternoon.
The march finished with a rally at Barrowlands, where UNISON Scotland secretary Mike Kirby declared: "Public sector workers are entitled to pensions that are affordable, sustainable and fair.
"Public sector workers are doing what successive governments have told them to do - to prepare for life after work."
Addressing a massive crowd, Mr Kirby added: "Never before have so many public service workers and so many women taken action.
"We know that today’s strike is being led by women - 3.7 million could be affected by the plans to make detrimental changes to pensions."
14:37, Bristol
"As 20,000+ of our trade union movement marched through Bristol today, the general public got it: many women in the shopping area clapped as we marched by and some had tears in their eyes," says Jackie.
14:33, Birmingham: 'Today history has been made'
Dave Prentis speaks at Birmingham rally
Full text of speech14:30, 'The government needs to listen'
UNISON assistant general secretary Bronwyn McKenna has just told BBC News: "The government needs to listen to the strength of feeling and needs to understand that this is a really important issue.
"These schemes are sustainable, viable and fair. Changes have already been made and we don’t need these draconian measures that are being proposed."
14:16, Sheffield: Most imaginative picket of the day?
Sheffield laid claim to one of the most unusual pickets of the day, with a street party protest at one of the city's busiest road junctions.
Gathered near Edmunds Road NHS Crisis Centre, strikers joined with their partners and children to generate a party atmosphere as they danced away to loud music from a makeshift sound system in the back of a vehicle.
But, alongside the fun, they also got on with the serious business of handing out leaflets to the public and were greeted with many honks of support from passing cars, buses and lorries.
The whole event was co-ordinated by mental health nurse and UNISON steward Mark Wilson, whose four-year-old son Sol was among the dancers.
"We wanted it to be a party atmosphere," explained Mr Wilson, who is a DJ in his spare time and has been "going round doing strike meetings all over the city, playing union songs such as Woody Guthrie."
By late morning, Sheffield's UNISON pickets were heading for the city centre for one of the lunchtime and afternoon rallies which have been taking place at cities and large towns across the UK.
In Yorkshire, the rallies ranged from Huddersfield and Halifax in the west of the county to Hull and Scarborough on the east coast, and included events in Leeds, Bradford, Rotherham, Doncaster and Keighley.
14:06, France: French join la greve
A group of 20 French trade unionists from the CGT public service federation have come over from northern France to join the London rally
14:04, Bristol: 'Today is about women - women who care, women who clean, women who teach'
Jacqui Stewart, UNISON's Gloucester Police branch union chair, said: "I'm very proud to be a public sector worker. Integrity, and what's right and fair, underpin everything we do.
"How is it fair that they are attacking our pensions again after they futureproofed them years ago?
"My pension has always been a factor in my deciding to work in the public sector, and if that changes I may be forced to reconsider - but I may have that decision taken away from me.
"The jobs we do aren't easy but we do them well, and we care. So why shouldn't we deserve a decent pension? After all, we've paid for it."
Tanya Palmer, speaking on behalf of UNISON health workers, said: "The real divide is between those at the top, and those who are at the middle and at the bottom. This is not an argument between workers, private and public.
"This is about standing up for fairness, and today is about women - women who care, women who clean, women who teach. Unison members are overwhelmingly women - they voted for action today.
"Today is their day - today is our day."
13:58, Manchester: 30,000 march through the city
13:56, Eastern region update
1,200 are marching through Hertford, 2,000 are rallying in Bedford, 500 are marching in Ipswich and 10,000 are rallying in Cambridge.
13:54, Bristol: Movement gathers pace in West country
"This is happening all over the west country. This is a movement that is gathering momentum," Nigel Costley of the South West TUC told the thousands of strikers, demonstrators and activists at Castle Park in Bristol.
“The truth will out,” he said.
“I pay tribute to those reps and organisers who have organised this day of action today.
"This is a windfall tax on public sector workers instead of a bonus levy on the bankers.
He urged private sector workers to back the action, saying: "We've got to organise private sector workers and this is a movement that is going to grow."
13:51, Message of support
"Fantastic turnout, a show of strength. One man who is drawing his pension and used to work in county hall came to stand with us to show his support."
Text your message of support to 66644 starting with the keyword 'strike' (normal charges apply).
13:49, Newcastle and Gateshead: Message of support
"It was a wonderful sight as we turned onto the Newcastle quay and saw the marchers and banners still streaming down the hill at Gateshead."
Text your message of support to 66644 starting with the keyword 'strike' (normal charges apply).
13:48, Wolverhampton: Message of support
"Fantastic march and rally in Wolverhampton over 2000 people led by general branch health branch and uni branch also good support from nut."
Text your message of support to 66644 starting with the keyword 'strike' (normal charges apply).
13:44, Brighton: Message of support from occupational therapist Sarah Pond
"We need to make our voice heard."
Text your message of support to 66644 starting with the keyword 'strike' (normal charges apply).
13:42, Brighton: Message of support from Anne Massey
We're all basically dancing to the bankers' tune. The bankers haven't been made to pay. It's grossly unjust.
Text your message of support to 66644 starting with the keyword 'strike' (normal charges apply).
13:18, Durham: 'Amazing' morning on Northern picket lines
"It has been an absolutely amazing morning," leading UNISON northern region activist Julie Wynn said after a tour of Durham picket lines taking in the county hall, police headquarters, university hospital and the passport office.
And that experience made her realise "just how important this day of action is in showing the strength of feeling that all of us working in the public sector have to defend our pension entitlement.
"Many of those that I spoke to on the picket lines said that they were really worried about their future and scared that the increase in contributions would have a serious effect on their family income.
"These are all decent, hard-working people who, at the end of their working life, want to have a respectable retirement."
Those sentiments were echoed by Teesside University joint branch secretary Denise Ward, who commented that "being here on the picket line has reaffirmed why I am doing this and given me a real buzz. It has been great."
Turning to the day's political message, she added: "We are saying that enough is enough. We don't like being treated like we are a burden on taxpayers.
"It has been great to see the level of support we have received from the public and students and that they understand that public sector workers are being made to pay the price for a crisis caused by bankers.
"Local polls show that the public support our taking strike action, which none of us have done lightly, but I hope this shows ministers that they have to get round the table and have meaningful negotiations with us."
13:21, Cambridge:
Marching with union members in Cambridge, Richard Johnson, a student at Jesus College Cambridge, and a member of Cambridge University Student Labour Club, said: "The reason I am doing this is I have family and friends who work in the public sector.
"It's also a case of our own future because many students look to work in the public sector because they know they will be taken care of when they retire.
"You have to ask whether they will go to the public sector in the future."
13,16, Edinburgh
NEC member Graham Smith reports: "10,000 outside the Scottish Parliament - very vocal UNISON crowd!"
13:15, BBC Northern Ireland:
Total shutdown of rail and bus services in Northern Ireland, company which runs public transport services says
13:13, message of support:
"Just wanted to say well done and keep warm to those on the line outside Caithness General in Wick." Nikki Reid
13:10, Dudley update:
"Fantastic turnout at Dudley group of hospitals, and then at least 500 on the march through Dudley.
"Unions and Labour councillors all supporting the march. Really good atmosphere! ;-)"
13:08, Scotland
UNISON Scotland reports: Numbers at Glasgow march huge. five times number expected at least.
13:00, Cambridge: "We need to make a stand" - strikers say
Over 2,000 trade unionists are marching through the centre of Cambridge this lunchtime, including UNISON members Elaina Petrovich and Sammie Byrne - both teaching assistants at Granta College, Linton, near Cambridge.
"I'm here to protect our pensions, which will be worth a pittance by the time we are allowed to retire, and to protect the pensions of future generations," Ms Petrovich said. "I'll be nearly 70 before I can retire."
Her colleague Sammie, aged 19, said: "I've never been on strike before and it was a hard decision, but the best decision to make. We need to make a stand."
12:55, Brighton: Attacks on public sector workers are final straw
Chancellor George Osborne's further attacks on public sector workers announced in his autumn statement yesterday proved to be the final straw for many workers.
"Yesterday, after what George Osborne said, people were panicking, shoving application forms to join the union under my door. We've had a huge surge in recruitment in this region," said Denise Knutson from UNISON Brighton and Hove local government branch.
Public sector workers began to realise that government ministers' attacks on pensions were only the beginning.
"We've got people who have been members for years and never been on strike before coming out today. People are incensed," Ms Knutson said.
Ken Hopkins who works for Brighton Learning Disability Services echoed the worries of many of those on strike.
"I work with people who have severe disabilities," she said: "It's tough work and we're not particularly well-paid, so my pension's not going to be great when I retire anyway. So I'm here to make sure I still have some kind of decent pension when I retire."
Outside the University of Brighton, Harry Hillery expressed his anger and explained why he was on strike. "When I started working, there were goal posts about pensions. Now it seems they're changing. I'm very angry about it."
12:47, Bristol: Thousands attending rally
Thousands of demonstrators are pouring into Castle Park in Bristol after marching from College Green, with police estimating as many as 20,000 could be congregating in the city centre.
One of those on strike today is Mark Weller, 50, a social worker. He said: "I've been taking great heart from today. It's a great turnout.
"I've been working in local government for 22 years and I see this as a betrayal by central Government.
"I'm angry at the way we're being scapegoated for the banking crisis and the way our government is trying to turn public opinion against its own workers.
"My wife, who is also a social worker, and I will be paying £160 a week more which isn't going to our pensions but going to pay off the deficit. This will be a huge impact on our household economy and it just feels like it's a tax on our pensions.
"We've been here three years ago on strike over the demographic issues and instead of sorting anything out I feel this is government opportunism to exploit this sector."
12:37, Cardiff: 'All they want is dignity in retirement'
4,000 attended a rally in Cardiff in brilliant sunshine. Bronwyn McKenna, UNISON assistant general secretary, denounced Michael Gove's attack on union members, saying: "UNISON members are on strike today not because they are making wild demands. Our members do the jobs which make our society decent. All they want is dignity in retirement."
12:35, Message of support
"It was a huge decision for us to strike because we're police staff, so we're marching past our colleagues. But they are very supportive."
Text us your message of support on 66644 starting with the keyword 'strike' (normal network charges apply).
12:31, Kings Lynn: Banners fly on streets of Norfolk
A march three abreast and extending 300 metres in length left the offices of HMRC in Kings Lynn at 12noon and headed for the town centre to show support for the Day of Action.
There were banners from, amongst others, UNISON, GMB, Unite, the PCS and FBU.
The reasons people were taking action were clear from the numerous placards - unfairness of the pension proposals, bankers' greed, decent pensions for all, not just workers in the public services.
The attitude of members of the public was supportive.
12:22, Swindon: Packed rally roars backing for UNISON message
UNISON assistant general secretary Roger McKenzie urged members to "stand strong, stand tall and stand firm" so that "together we will win this battle for public services." Mr McKenzie was speaking at a packed rally in Swindon, made up of hundreds of striking union members, their families and supporters.
And, after congratulating members on the wonderful turnout, Mr McKenzie went on: "I want to bring you this message, which I've been hearing from all over the country - our strike is massive and our strike is strong everywhere.
"Ordinary working people are standing up and saying enough is enough.
"We didn't fight all these years for public services so you could take them away with the swish of a pen."
And Mr McKenzie had a clear message for chancellor George Osborne, proclaiming: "Listen to the people. We demand the right to decent pensions, we demand the right to decent services and we demand the right to decent terms and conditions in the workplace.
"We demand jobs for our young people and we demand that they aren't condemned to a life on the dole queue.
"We stand up alongside those people occupying squares across the country, those people fighting for democracy around the world and those in Wisconsin who have been fighting for the right to have collective bargaining.
"We are the majority and we have the support of the majority."
The huge crowd roared its appreciation, as representatives of other public sector unions took to the stage at the Swindon Trades Council organised event, which followed a march that had attracted vocal support from the public on its way.
12:17, Canterbury: Jeff Derham texts "good turn out for canterbury city branch now on to the march at 1pm"
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12:16, Trowbridge: Nick H tells us 150 are at rally in Trowbridge
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12:14, London: GLA workers defy Boris
GLA workers defied Tory London mayor Boris Johnson today to join today's industrial action in defence of their pensions.
"It's a very difficult and brave step for these members to strike," said London regional secretary Linda Perks.
"These are key workers for the mayor of London, a mayor who is a high profile Tory politician and in the frontline of Tory policy. Boris was determined to keep City Hall open today. We have effectively ensured that 90% of staff joined the strike. It shows how determined these people are to protect their pensions."
Vice chair of the GLA branch Rebecca Palmer has spent the last five years in the authority’s children and young people's unit, helping hundreds of ordinary youngsters in the city to better access a range of services and opportunities.
But she says that the changes to her pension will affect how she can provide for her own children.
"These changes will affect my income quite dramatically," she says. "My parents were in a position to support me through difficult times but I won't be able to support myself, let alone provide a safety net for my own children - whose own pensions are going to be much worse."
As UNISON members picketed the GLA's riverside headquarters, they cheerfully engaged with passers-by, explaining to them exactly whey they were striking today.
"My favourite has been a jogger who stopped running to talk to us," says Rebecca. "He said he works in the private sector and wished us all the best. He also wished he had an organisation like ours so that he could have a decent pension."
12:12, Blackburn: Message of support from Cheryl Schofield in rally at Blackburn town centre
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12:06, Brighton: First-time strikers on picket line
It was not quite light and rather chilly this morning, but Lynn Smyth was already stationed outside NHS Brighton and Hove, where she works, for her first ever picket line duty.
She had come to the back of the building to the car-park entrance to hand leaflets to cars entering.
"It’s quite an easy-going picket here. I said I wouldn't be here if it wasn't," she laughs, a little tentative but determined.
As branch chair Lynn has been highly effective in informing her colleagues about the pensions dispute, which has led to many new members.
One member, who didn’t want to be named, said: "I only joined the union because of the strike. Until UNISON told us about our pensions, we didn't really realise what it all meant. Now I think it's time we actually started stamping our feet and saying we're not putting up with it. This is just the start."
Terry Blair-Stevens, picketing at the front entrance to the NHS trust says: "I've been working in the NHS for 22 years. I chose to work here rather than in private health partly because I'm passionate about public services, but also because my understanding at the time was that the pay wouldn't be as good, but I would make up for it by having a slightly better pension at the end of it. I feel now that my rights are being undermined.
"I think the strike will have an impact. Through strength of numbers we'll affect public awareness and the government would be foolish to ignore that. But it will be a hard-fought battle."
Less than a mile down the road, Paul Rothwell was standing on the traffic island on the Lewes Road outside Brighton University where he works.
"We live in extraordinary times and it calls for an extraordinary response," he says. “After what happened yesterday, with the autumn statement, it's clear that this government's agenda is an attack on public services. If we don't take a stand now we’ll take hit after hit."
Like many of his colleagues, Mr Rothwell was moved to anger by chancellor George Osborne’s announcement yesterday, which included a 1% cap on public sector pay rises for two years after the end of current freeze next year.
"I'm 45 and this reminds me of my teens, the days of the old Tory government. It's an assault on certain sectors in society. There's very little they can take because they've already had everything. But to be part of today means there is hope. The worst thing we can do is nothing."
11:58, Scotland: Pipers call out the workers
Strike day kicked off in Scotland with a piper and reception committee welcoming the security guards at Glasgow Caledonian University as they came out on strike at midnight.
Pickets at Stornoway Hospital in the Western Isles
Speaking on a picket line outside the offices of a voluntary organisation in Motherwell, steward Craig Mooney said: "It needs to be remembered that quite a number of voluntary sector staff are also affected by the attack on public sector pensions."
Elsewhere in Motherwell, pickets were out in force at housing and home care offices.
Area organiser Janet Stewart said: "The strike has closed the big leisure centre here and all bar one of the other centres. Public support has been great and at one picket line a pensioner handed the pickets a tenner to buy themselves teas and coffees!"
Across the motorway in Hamilton, three generations were on South Lanarkshire branch's picket line at the council HQ, as retired teacher Catriona Mason joined Seniors Together project manager Christine Calder and her daughter Rachel in the fight for pensions justice.
Political support for the strike came in from councillors and MSPs across the country.
Strathclyde police staff were joined on the picket line by police board chair Stephen Curran bearing bacon rolls, while Green MSP Patrick Harvie went on BBC Radio Scotland to support the strike.
Mr Harvie's actions were in direct contrast to Scottish Finance Minister John Swinney, who crossed at least two picket lines.
11: 56, north London: Starting with a strike
A young man just starting his working life in the education sector was taking part in his first strike action today.
Jack Ellice has been an academic administrative assistant at Central St Martins College of Art and Design for three years and a UNISON member for six months.
"I was 19 when I started work, so when I joined the pension scheme I was quite the odd one out among my friends - but I can see already how incredibly important it is.
"I am pretty certain I am going to have to work for longer and pay more contributions but the government is putting its hand in my pocket and making me suffer needlessly."
He was picketing alongside UCU members and says: “Who knows what’s going to happen in the future? There’s strength in numbers and if we all pull together now, maybe the unions can stop this."
11:54, Cambridge
The feeder march from Addenbrookes Hospital in the south of Cambridge is now nearing the city centre where it meets another march from Shire Hall.
Addenbrookes marchers are over 300 strong, a good-natured march with UNISON placards, tabards and flags in prominence.
11.53 Update from Pam in Scotland
Hi all - been out on the picket line at Hairmyres Hospital in East Kilbride. Very cold!!
11:46, Newcastle and Gateshead: Voices from the North
Josie Bird, NEC member and co-chair of Newcastle City Branch, was showing her support despite being on maternity leave: "I am on maternity leave at the moment, but I couldn't miss being on the picket line with my son Joseph (6 months), wearing his t-shirt saying 'My Mummy deserves a decent pension'.
"As a new mother who will be returning to work in January, my pension is really important to me. But I worry about the increased contributions that I am being asked to pay, because with a young family every penny will count.
"Paying an extra 50% in contributions is a massive hike for me. I don't earn much but I work hard, and I believe that the services provided by me and my public sector colleagues are an essential part in creating a civilised society where the vulnerable are protected. Our employment and our pensions are not a drain on society as we have been portrayed by the government.
"My husband works in the private sector. So for me this fight is not just about public sector pensions but private sector pensions too. We should all have dignity in retirement.
"Everyone deserves a decent pension - at the end of my working life I want to live with dignity and not be fearful of struggling financially.
"I am really angry that this additional contribution will not be going into the Local Government Pension Scheme either, but to the Treasury to pay off the deficit. A deficit which is not of my making and is in effect an additional tax on me as a public sector worker. Why should I have to pay for a crisis that has been created by the Bankers?" Maddy Nettleship, at the picket line at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead, said, "I can't believe the support we are getting from the general public. Cars have been blowing their horns, people have been wishing us good luck and giving us their support. It shows how much they care about the NHS and the staff that work for it.
"As a nurse that works in the community, I know that the patients I see in their own homes appreciate the care that they receive from the NHS and I am the person that delivers that care to them. They have told me that they support the reason why I am on strike today and that what I will get as my pension is important to me once I retire.
"The job that I do is demanding both physically and mentally. Government ministers are asking me to work longer, pay more and get less.
"I don't think they have any clue what the reality of this means for those of us doing my job.
"The average pension for a woman in the NHS is only £3,000, hardly gold plated. We are also fighting to ensure proper pensions for everyone both in the public and private sectors. But the support I and my colleagues on the picket line have been given is great, and means so much to me."
11:35, More messages of support
"Heading off to join the march in Glasgow. Solidarity to all strikers!"
"Wiltshire College Salisbury UNISON members joining unions at a rally in Bournemouth. Interviewed live on BBC radio Wiltshire this morning."
"Fantastic show of public support at Royal Sussex County Hospital Brighton."
"I'm on Liverpool Rd about to march with a lot of other people who are also against the pension cuts to public sector workers. Manchester City Council."
"Huge turnout at MECA in Swindon for rally."
"I am on strike today in Glasgow although won't be joining a picket line as I am pregnant, instead I am at home supporting UNISON and the public sector."
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11:33, recruitment
Around 2,000 new members have joined UNISON online since 12 noon yesterday.
11:28, message of support:
Duncan Hothersall tweets: Disgusted by some of the lies being told about the strikers today. As a private sector company director I support #nov30 100%. #strike
Keep those messages of support flowing on Twitter, using the hashtags #n30 #nov30 #pensions #strike and/ or #unison
Send us your message by text on 66644 starting with keyword 'strike' (normal network charges apply).
11:25, central London:
Word reaches us that UNISON flags are flying outside the Conservative Party offices in Millbank
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11:24, central London:
Staff from the UNISON communications team have been out to picket lines near the UNISON Centre.
We’ve been delivering leaflets and chocolates to UNISON members picketing at Camden Council and University College Hospital.
There are nurses risking life and limb outside UCH encouraging drivers to hoot in support of the strikers. Response is good, especially from London bus drivers.
We also stopped to say hello at the PCS and Prospect picket line outside the British Library.
11:20, Birmingham: We can do this if we stand together
"It's about time we started looking after those people who look after us." Rose, a senior practitioner at Lifford Park, a centre for social services and care for people with dementia, was not alone in her anger about how the workforce has been treated.
She was one of the predominantly female picket lines that proudly patrolled every entrance to the site. For the pickets, the attack on their pensions was the final straw.
"Most people work in the public sector out of conviction," she said. "We accept that the pay is not comparable to the private sector. But a decent pension isn't too much to ask - and nobody we know has a gold-plated one."
Maxine, a reviewing officer, said: "We work hard for our money - why should we pay more and get less?"
Home care assistant Yvonne said: "They should start looking after working people. A look at history tells you that a lot of people fought for our rights, and they're being taken away from us now." Samerjit, a social worker, working with adults said: "I put in extra hours, but I'm giving the organisation something they're not prepared to give me. And with the bankers seemingly let off the hook, I felt I had to come.
"It's quite scary: we're not being respected as workers - but we can do this if we stand together!"
"People are going to realise what public services really are today," announced Alix Brodie-Wray at the University of Brighton.
The research office worker reflected that there’s a tendency to think public services are made up of "people in suits, but today they'll see who we all are."
Alix had never been a union member, but she decided to join UNISON about a year ago and now she thinks that are "a lot of threats at the moment, so it's a good idea for me to have representation for the things that are coming."
The university had picket lines organised for all the entrances to its many different sites, but when the student union advised students not to go in on the day of action, the decision was taken to close the whole university.
But Alix still turned out with her UNISON flag at 8am to give a public show of support for the strike.
"It seems like the right thing to do, and it's good to be doing something. I'm happy to talk to members of the public about it because it’s easy to explain - basically, it's wrong what they're proposing,” she said.
And knowing that she's part of the biggest strike since the 1930s gives her and her colleagues even more encouragement.
Fellow research office worker Simon Heath commented: "I couldn't live with myself if I did nothing. I've never been a member of a trade union before, but now I think that you've just got to do what you can, and then hope that it has some effect."
Branch secretary Carole Hanson observed that new members have been flocking to the union and she put a recent surge down to yesterday's autumn statement.
"It’s such an ideological attack. It's becoming clear that they just hate us. They’ve got no time for anything that can't turn a profit," she commented.
So do these staff feel optimistic that their action can protect their pensions? "I hope it will, but this feels like the beginning of an ongoing thing," responded Alix, as she broke off to wave her flag and smile at a van full of waving police officers driving past.
11:15, Liverpool:
Health Pickets not charged in Macdonalds At Liverpool Hope University, the pickets are being fed by local nuns.
11:12, Cambridgeshire:
Charlotte Garrard, care manager of the social care team for older people in South Cambridgeshire, said: "I am on the demonstration today because I feel strongly that all people's pensions should be protected. What they are proposing is like a pay cut but I also want to show my support against ongoing cuts.
"People at my work are retiring and they are not replacing them. Referrals to old people’s teams increase and the budget decreases."
11:10, West Midlands
West Midlands Police HQ pickets had tea, coffee, toast brought out by police officers working inside.
11:08, Message of support:
I am a public sector worker and work in a school. I have come out on strike in support of everyone who is affected, and hope we do have the good turn out predicted.
11:07, Norfolk:
At King's Lynn in West Norfolk there were official UNISON pickets at the offices of the Norfolk County Council and at the King's Lynn Police Station.
At the County Council offices Robert, who works for trading standards, was on strike as he felt that it was completely unfair that pensions - misrepresented by sections of the press as being 'gold plated' and pronounced as affordable in 2008 - were now having their terms altered to require longer working lives and increased contributions to fill the hole in the public finances caused by the greed and irresponsibility of the City of London and the bankers.
At the police station, Nick who has been a UNISON member for 25 years and who works in the public enquiry office at the station, was taking action as he felt very strongly that ordinary working people were being used to pay for mistakes which they had not made.
He felt that a remark made by a Tory MP yesterday that what was to be collected from union members would be used to fund the projects outlined by George Osborne in his statement said it all.
He said a proper tax on the City would go a long way to dealing with the deficit.
11:06, London: Peter Jones from Dragons Den shows support to pickets at Moorfields Eye Hospital
11:00, Nottingham: Women on the frontline
It was women on the frontline outside West Bridgeford police station this morning.
Passers by beeped their horns and supportive police staff brought out hot drinks for the all-women picket line.
All the women said they were struggling to make ends meet. IT worker Sharron Hather said she had to support her unemployed brother with her £23,000 a year salary.
"I'm having to economise by not going out or going on holidays. I am here because we have to say something and cannot let them walk all over us."
At Nottingham City council headquarters UNISON and GMB pickets had been out since before dawn to leaflet colleagues rushing into work from the nearby railway station.
Gary Ward, UNISON branch secretary at the city council, said: "There are 4,000 members in the city council and I hope at least 75 to 80 per cent are out today. I have already heard that no one is going in at the depots. At this site you also get corporate directors and agency people who are not in the union but people are taking leaflets and being polite and cordial. We cannot stop them going in but we are trying to educate them."
A mile down the road at Queen's Medical Centre, home to the local emergency department and children's hospital, an empty bus pulled away from the site.
Standing amid the flags and placards on the picket line UNISON branch secretary for Nottingham University Hospitals Trust Martin Benn said: "Normally that bus going to the city hospital site is full and standing room only. There would be a queue of workers waiting to get on but there is nobody here. This is an early indication of how well the strike is being supported." Outside County Hall, a picket in a T-shirt with the slogan 'get angry and fight back' on it stopped drivers going into the main car park to lobby their cause.
UNISON member Liz Pritchett, a senior information officer, had been there since 7am. "Mainly people have been friendly. We are their colleagues at the end of the day. I think most sympathise with us."
10:40, Cardiff: "We won’t pay for greedy bankers"
Striking outside the biggest hospital in Wales, pharmacy department technician Rachel Noble exclaimed: "It's unfair that we are being penalised for other people’s mistakes. We work hard and we should not have to live in poverty when we retire."
Ms Noble, who has worked at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff for eight years, added: "It is not our fault that the country is in a terrible state. It was not us who gambled all the money away."
Also on the picket line, fellow hospital worker Rachel Lloyd-Jones added: "I can't afford to work longer, pay more into a pension and get less when it's time to retire.
"Ministers are not taking into account the lives of the general public, especially the impact on families. I have spoken to patients and they are supporting us – they understand a strike is the last resort."
Former miner Mike Jones, who joined the NHS 20 years ago after his colliery closed down, observed: "One of the attractions of joining the NHS was the pension. To find my retirement plans have been put back is very upsetting. I am 48 and now I will have to work until I’m 66.
"My pension contributions are going to increase by 3%. We have not had a pay rise for two years and now the pay rise is going to be capped at 1% for the following two years."
UNISON branch chair Stuart Egan commented: "We need to send a clear message that what they are trying to do to our pensions is unacceptable. People have been planning financially for their retirement and this government has just torn things up.
"The NHS pension is £3bn in credit and our pensions are affordable. We are being asked to pay for those greedy bankers who are still receiving their bonuses.
"The average pension for a woman worker is just £3,600 a year."
Andrea Hallam fears for the future of her family.
The mother-of-three is already holding down three jobs and still life is a struggle. She took her very personal message to the picket line at Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham.
Andrea is a phlebotomist, working for GP practises, a health care assistant and takes out-of-hours calls for emergency medical services, yet still her annual earnings only come to £17,000.
With her 19-year-old daughter at university and sons aged 17 and 15, the bills are just getting higher.
"I'm really feeling it now," Andrea said, "more than ever. Everything is going up. I'm on really hard times now, every penny matters and it is only going to get worse.
"The other workers at my surgery have been very supportive of my action today. I am here now because it is affecting my life. I'm working full time and getting less money."
Everyone that walked past Andrea as they went into the hospital took a leaflet from her, many giving a smile and saying they would read about her message.
"I don't agree with what the government want to do," Andrea said: "If we have to work until we are 68, I don't know if I will be able to do all my jobs then."
Now aged 46, she fears that her long term prospects are bleak. "I just don't know about the future. I worry for my children. My daughter is at uni and my son is at college but he cannot get a part time job - there is nothing out there for them. It is a frightening future, I just don't know what will happen."
Andrea gets support from her children's father and her union worker fiancé but money is still tight.
She is angry over the pension proposals. "Before the government got in, they said they would not touch public sector workers but that is exactly what they have done and I cannot see how it will get better. It is totally wrong what they are going to do."
Joining her on the picket line was a 62-year-old auxiliary nurse, angry that the government had gone back on promises. The protester, who did not wish to be named, described how she cried as she and a colleague walked out of their night shift to join the strike.
She said: "I made sure there was cover for the patients and then left. I was crying at having to do it but I felt so strongly. The government had promised people who don’t get good wages a good pension. It’s just dreadful."
Blog updates from: AM | PM
Your messages:
"Well done to everyone today. Let's hope it makes a difference!!"
Roz
"Well done to everyone today. Let's hope it makes a difference!!"
Roz
"Hi I'm from Sunderland. I have never been on strike before until now. We need to stick together for the Goverment to listen. We are striking for everyone who is affected by the Pension scam. There has been a lot of public support. Lets keep this up. Together we are strong."
Alex
Alex
"I am self employed but fully support your members 100%. This government must realise that the public services in this country are something to be proud of and your members deserve to be treated fairly for their hard work and professionalism."
Dave
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Dave
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UNISON members, mostly women, many low-paid and many taking strike action for the first time ever - stood up and said, with quiet resolve, enough is enough.'
Videos:
UNISON Pensions strike 30th November 2011
The Workers: Let's Work Together music video
Dave Prentis message to UNISON members
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