Britain's biggest one-day strike for 30 years took place this week, closing schools and disrupting the health service, among other public services. At issue: the proposed reform of public sector pensions. The government says the current scheme is too expensive and can't be justified to taxpayers; unions claim their members are being asked to pay more in contributions for a smaller pension.
We hear from those demonstrating in London, and from members of the public not taking part in industrial action. With many people in the private sector facing far worse pension provision, the onus has been on public sector workers to make their case. Opinion polls show they are having some success: 61% of people said the strike was "justified" in a BBC survey.
We also hear from Severin Carrell in Edinburgh, Steven Morris in Bristol and Michael White at Westminster.
In the studio to discuss the wider implications of the confrontation between government and the unions we have Matthew Sinclair, director of the Taxpayer's Alliance; Rachael Maskell, from the union Unite; and Guardian editorial writer Tom Clark, who's also the presenter of our Politics Weekly podcast.
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