Day of mass disruption

Reaction on Chad’s Facebook page has been mixed.

Rachael Tomblin said: “I’m lucky in that my boss has allowed me to take Thursday off as annual leave. If not I would have been stuck.

“I don’t think it’s right my children miss out again on their education yet I would get fined if I take them out of school - seems it’s one rule for us and another for them.

“These strikes don’t seem to be helping the issues they say they are for. Might be time to try something else - something that means my children still get their education.”

But Helen Lewis Was Barker said: ”Not just teachers but firefighters, caretakers, council workers and low paid civil servants are striking because they haven’t had a pay rise in years.

“Increases in their pension contributions mean they have had pay cuts, they are working longer for smaller pensions, and terms and conditions changes.

“They are striking to make a difference and before you all jump on the band wagon and say they don’t deserve it, think how many services they provide for you.”