Brendan Barber: 'Strikes will win public support'

The biggest strike for over 30 years has got under way with schools, hospitals, courts, transport and government set to be hit by a walkout involving up to two million workers.

Picket lines were being mounted outside thousands of schools, hospitals, job centres, courts and other buildings, while more than a thousand rallies and other demonstrations will be held across the UK.

Brendan Barber, TUC general secretary, said he was confident the public will support the strike action.