Whistles and horns sounded at 1pm yesterday to mark the beginning of a half-day walkout by civil servants.
Job centres, courts and office buildings were affected by yesterday's strike by about 2,000 PCS union members angry about changes to their pay, terms and conditions.
PCS member Andy Dyke, who represents Ministry of Justice employees in Leicestershire and Rutland, said: "This Government decided that because of the mistakes of the banks in previous years they would cut the budgets of public services.
"Every public service in Britain is going to be affected by a loss of terms and conditions for workers and there's been a pay freeze for two years and it's potentially going on for four.
"We should be treated fairly and with respect."
There will be a further strike on Monday morning involving several hundred employees at HM Revenue and Customs.
Union members will refuse to work overtime this weekend.
Minister for the Cabinet Office Francis Maude has described the industrial action as "futile, counterproductive and irresponsible".
He said: "It benefits no-one but threatens the services at a time when we should all be working together to support growth."
