THOUSANDS of striking workers took part in colourful marches and rallies across Wales yesterday.

A mass rally was held next to the Aneurin Bevan statue in Cardiff city centre, with firefighters, teachers and local government staff all represented.

“Today’s coalition of striking unions have had more of a mandate to run these strikes than Prime Minister David Cameron has to run the country,” bellowed Unite Welsh secretary Andy Richards.

Civil servants’ union PCS’s Marianne Owens said: “We must seek to bring together those from every campaign — from the bedroom tax and libraries to disability. We are strong together and together we must fight.”

Disabled campaign group People First was also out in force.

Karen Jenkins, who won an appeal against paying the bedroom tax, said: “I am supporting the strike today as there is no need for cuts to public services. Austerity is all about privatisation and corporate profits.”

Unison regional local government officer Steve Belcher hit back at critics of strike action.

“People don’t realise what our members do until we stop doing it,” he said.

“We need a decent pay rise for our members. Not tomorrow, not next week but now.”

And Cardiff trades council secretary Ramon Corria added: “This is the largest walkout by angry public-sector workers in decades. This ideologically driven government of millionaires are out of touch with workers across the UK.”

Marches or rallies were also staged in Bangor, Carmarthenshire, Gwynedd, Merthyr Tydfil, Swansea and Wrexham.