As two million public sector workers went on strike this week, the impact of the largest outbreak of industrial unrest in three decades has forced the closure of 62% of state schools in England and the cancellation of 6,000 hospital operations.

Heathrow Airport reported minimal disruption as the mass rebooking of passengers helped reduce queues at border control. However, the cabinet secretary, Francis Maude, acknowledged that the strikes over pension reforms had disrupted services.

The impact includes:

• 19,000 out of 21,700 schools in England and Wales closed or partially closed.

• 6,000 out of 30,000 non-urgent operations cancelled.

• 135,000 civil servants on strike, representing just over a quarter of the civil service.

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