Most schools in Northern Ireland were closed today as thousands of teachers joined civil servants in strike action over pay.
Unions say it was the biggest day of industrial action for more than a decade.
All the main teaching unions took part, including the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), which had not taken strike action before in its 125-year history.
NAHT President in Northern Ireland, Liam McGuckin, told the BBC that striking was "the very last resort".
There has been a stalemate over a pay deal for teachers in Northern Ireland for over a year.
In February 2022, unions rejected a pay offer from employers for the years 2021-2023 as "inadequate".
They point out that since then the cost of living has spiralled.
Thousands of civil servants also took strike action.
The Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance, the largest union in Northern Ireland, said the action would "bring the civil service and education to a halt and is the opening of a campaign of industrial action designed to bring the government to the negotiating table".
Rallies were held in Belfast and Derry.
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It is a myth to think there is no money for workers, according to General Secretary of NIPSA Carmel Gates.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Ms Gates said payments to a number of key youth services, including the extended schools scheme and holiday hunger payments, are being cut.
Economic sanctions are being imposed on political parties in Northern Ireland, Ms Gates said, but it is the ordinary working family that is suffering.
"The Tories don't even argue there's no money anymore because there's enough money for all their pet projects.
"There's enough money for contracts for their friends and big business.
"The only people that there aren't enough money for are workers, ordinary working people."
NIPSA members are calling for a minimum pay increase of inflation plus 5%, Ms Gates said.
"Members have lost around 20% over the last ten years."
