BRITAIN was hit Thursday by what trade unions have called the biggest wave of work stoppages since the Labor government came to power 10 years ago, with up to 400,000 public sector employees going on strike.

It was yet another blow to Prime Minister Gordon Brown just one day after he was forced by party rebels into a humiliating policy reverse over tax cuts.

Refinery workers at the Grangemouth oil refinery in Scotland are also set to strike in a dispute over pensions that could cause major fuel distribution problems.

Up to 200,000 teachers are staging their first national strike in 20 years in a bitter pay dispute with the government. Up to one third of schools in England and Wales are set to be disrupted.

"After three years of below-inflation pay increases, the prospect for a further three years of the same is the last straw," said teachers' union leader Christine Blower.

Millions of workers paid by the government have expressed disappointment and frustration over their latest pay deals as the cost of living has risen.

Thursday, the teachers were joined in a coordinated wave of strikes by civil servants — ranging from coastguards to driving test examiners.

About 100,000 workers from 10 government departments are angry over pay rises capped below inflation, their union said.

Widespread labor unrest is the latest blow to Brown.

Faced with the prospect of rebellion by its own lawmakers, the government said Wednesday said it would look at ways of helping those worst affected by the abolition of the lowest income tax band.

Frank Field, the leader of the Labor rebels, withdrew an amendment which had raised the prospect of a humiliating defeat for Brown in a parliamentary vote next week. "The government has listened," Field said

(SD-Agencies)