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.”