Thousands of workers strike in Northern Ireland, joining Europe-wide anti-austerity movement

Northern Ireland's trade unions claim Friday's public sector strike is among the biggest in years, as workers in transport, education, road services, fire and rescue and health services defy their bosses over cuts.

Organized by Unite the Union, UNISON and GMB, leaders say austerity measures will likely result in up to 20,000 job losses over the next few years.

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Picket lines and demonstrations are taking place across the region as workers confronted public sector cuts. Northern Ireland is more dependent on central government than any other part of the UK.

Ahead of the strike Michael Mulholland, GMB regional organizer, said: "."

Unite regional secretary Jimmy Kelly said in a statement: "."

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Speaking to RT, Anne Speed, head of bargaining at UNISON said: "."

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Left political groups in mainland Britain sent messages of support.

Socialist Party of England and Wales spokesperson Judy Bieshon told RT the group "."

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Late last night the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) took the unusual step of declaring a major emergency in a move that could disrupt the industrial action.

The NIAS trust had come to terms with unions to provide ambulance cover for Friday, but after being "inundated" with calls from workers saying that they were withdrawing labor, bosses opted to declare an emergency.

The declaration brings into effect a contingency clause which allows bosses to recall staff.

An NIAS spokesperson told the newspaper: ""

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