Advertisement Public sector strikes hit schools and services around the UK 10 July 2014 -- Hundreds of thousands of people have taken part in rallies and marches across the UK as part of a day of strike action by public service unions. Teachers, firefighters and council workers joined the strike, which follows disputes with the government over pay, pensions and cuts. -- But Trades Union Congress (TUC) general secretary Frances O'Grady said workers had gone on strike "to say enough is enough". The GMB and Unison unions said more than one million people had taken part in the strikes. But Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude said fewer than 500,000 had -- Image caption, Workers in Newcastle joined those on strike over pay and other issues Image source, Reuters Image caption, Pay was a central reason for the strikes, unions said Image source, Getty Images Image caption, The GMB union said more than one million people were on strike The government also said one fifth of civil servants - fewer than 90,000 workers - had been on strike and that 717 Jobcentres had been unaffected. -- Those who have taken part in the action include: * Firefighters, who are on strike between 10:00 and 19:00 BST in a row over pensions and retirement age * The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) - which represents -- and teaching staff - who also dismissed the "insulting" pay offer * The National Union of Teachers (NUT), whose general secretary Christine Blower said teachers "deeply regretted" taking strike action * Schools, courts, job centres and council services have been hit in Wales, where around 70,000 public sector workers are on strike * Members of the Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance, who work in a range of areas including housing, youth justice and libraries, -- and pensions For Unite, Unison and the GMB, the strike action covers workers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland but not Scotland, while the PCS covers all four nations. The FBU and NUT have been striking in England -- Video caption, Ed Miliband: "Nobody wants to see these strikes...they are always a sign of failure" Labour leader Ed Miliband told the BBC the government should bear the responsibility for the strikes, which represented a "failure on all sides". -- TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said: "Across the public sector workers are on strike today to say enough is enough. "Year after year pay has failed to keep up with the cost of living." -- BBC political correspondent Norman Smith Strikes are meant to cause maximum pain for employers but in this case it doesn't look like this is happening. Why? Because far from causing the government much political grief, today's strikes by public sector workers are actually rather politically convenient. -- In particular, Prime Minister David Cameron is keen to include plans for a strike ballot threshold in his party's next manifesto. Today's strikes enable ministers to turn up the heat on Labour by pressing them to condemn the industrial action being carried out by their big union supporters. -- bullish stance. So, while in public ministers will appear angered by the strikes, in private they may be a good deal more relaxed. -- Ballot turnouts The strikes went ahead despite the government arguing they are based on ballots conducted some years ago, with low turnout from union members. -- On Wednesday, Mr Cameron said the time had come for legislation setting a minimum turnout for a strike ballot, promising this in the next Conservative manifesto. Under the current law, a strike can take place if it is backed by a simple majority of those union members who vote - regardless of the level of turnout. -- Video caption, Strikers respond to criticisms that their strike does not have a legitimate mandate -- I'm not sure it will be the next Christmas number one but this was the song blasting out of speakers in Birmingham's Victoria Square and the union members out on strike loved it. They cheered, sang along and waved their flags. -- Of course these union members weren't the only ones off work today. Parents with children at schools affected by the strikes were also left with no option but to juggle childcare. -- It says today's action was disruptive and says it will consider looking at introducing tougher anti-strike laws. The government says the case for reforms is gathering pace in the face of ballots with low levels of support. -- * As it happened: Public sector strike action 10 July 2014 * In pictures: Public sector strikes 10 July 2014 * Public sector strikes: Why are workers walking out? 9 July 2014 * Schools face disruption as NUT teachers strike 10 July 2014 * Video, Public sector strike: 'Enough is enough' says Unison's Dave Prentis 10 July 2014 * Video, Voices from the picket line: Public sector staff justify strike 10 July 2014 * Video, Public sector workers in mass strike 10 July 2014 * -- * Video, PMQs: Cameron and Raab on strike ballot legislation 9 July 2014 * David Cameron condemns public sector strike 9 July 2014 * Video, Public sector strikes: Gove criticises 'damaging' walkout 10 July 2014 * Video, Public sector strikes: NUT's Blower defends 'legitimate ballot' 10 July 2014