PICKET lines have formed outside nearly every public sector workplace in Hillingdon today (Wednesday). There were walk-outs at Uxbridge Civic Centre from 6am and throughout the morning.

Hillingdon Hospital, RAF Northolt, Uxbridge College, HMRC in Park Road, Brunel University, both job centre branches, plus dozens of schools all saw workers strike over government pension plans, job cuts and wage freezes.

Nearly 200 strikers joined a mass protest in Uxbridge High Street from 12pm, before a number of speeches outside the civic centre.

Hillingdon TUC branch president Stuart Roderick told the protesters: "I don't think this borough has seen this many people on the streets, ever."

The Gazette met some of those taking part and asked why they had decided to take industrial action.

Janet MacPherson, a pastoral support worker from Barnhill Community High School, said: "We are going to have to pay more money per month, work for much longer and at the end receive a smaller pension.

"The extra we do pay in will go to the Treasury."

Julie Willis, from the community housing team at Hillingdon Council, said: "I feel very strongly that the government is taking away hard-earned money and is threatening to steal money we have worked hard for.

"We didn't want ot strike, we have been negotiating for a long time but they don't want to talk to us.

"I enjoy my job, I don't like doing this."

Myra Wilkinson (pictured), assistant branch secretary at Unison, is 59 but won't be able to retire until 65 - when she will pick up a pension worth just £4,000 per year.

She told the Gazette: "I don't believe I should be given an extra tax to bail out the government.

"This is idea we get a gold-plated pension is rubbish. The pay rises we get are a pittance."

Just 18 out of 90 schools in the borough opened fully  - with most secondary schools sacrificing classes for its younger pupils and only teaching GCSE and A-level students.

Job centres in Uxbridge and Hayes ran a limited service and told JSA claimants that they were excused from signing on and could come back in a fortnight.

At RAF Northolt about 60 post office workers who send mail overseas and 12 civilian security guards walked out.

The Border Agency at Heathrow Airport was severely affected.

Bin collections and libraries were operating as normal, while Uxbridge Magistrates' Court postponed its bail cases but held its custody cases.

And over 100 people took part in industrial strike action across Hillingdon Hospital and Mount Vernon Hospital.

Derek Marchant, union representative, said: "We are delighted with the turnout, staff here are so frustrated.

"Essential services are running as usual, but we have everybody from physios to security staff at the picket lines all day."
East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust, which runs some services at Mount Vernon, said 95 per cent of its staff were at work.
Chief executive Nick Carver said: "Our theatres and wards, emergency departments and maternity services were open as normal.
"The vast majority of outpatient clinics went ahead as planned, with only a handful being postponed beforehand due to a reduction in some diagnostic services being available on the day.  
"We also worked with local GPs asking them to defer referrals to such walk-in services as x-rays."