LONDON (AP) – Thousands of schools in the UK have closed some or all of their classrooms, paralyzed trains and expected delays at airports on Wednesday in the biggest unrest the UK has seen in more than a decade. Emerging as a day of action, unions are pressuring governments to demand better wages amid a cost of living crisis.
The Trade Union Congress, a trade union federation, estimates that up to 500,000 workers nationwide will lose their jobs, including teachers, university workers, civil servants, border guards and train and bus drivers.
Further actions are planned over the next few days and weeks, including by nurses and rescue workers.
Britons have endured months of turmoil in their daily lives amid lingering bitter disputes over wages and working conditions between trade unions and the government. But Wednesday’s strike marks an escalation of disruptive measures in several key industries. The last major strike on this scale was in 2011, when well over a million public sector workers went on strike throughout the day over their pensions.
Union officials say many public sector workers are in financial trouble as their wages cannot keep up with rising inflation, despite some pay increases, including his 5% wage increase the government has proposed for teachers.
The National Education Federation said about 23,000 schools were affected as of Wednesday, with an estimated 85% closed in whole or in part. Others range from museum employees and London bus drivers to Coast Guard and Border Patrol officers stationed at passport control booths at airports.
“Everyone left, Of course, there will be some confusion and lines,” Border Force Secretary Phil Douglas told reporters.
Mick Whelan, general secretary of the train drivers union ASLEF, said the government must listen to workers’ demands.
“Everybody knows someone who works somewhere and is on strike, about to strike, or has been chosen to go on strike,” he said. “Simply put, the government needs to listen now. People in this country are talking a lot about wanting a higher cost of living.”
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s office acknowledged that Wednesday’s strike would cause “serious disruption” to people, arguing that “negotiating rather than picket lines is the right approach.” say they rejected enough negotiations and proposals to stop the strike.
Unions are also angry at the government’s plans to introduce new laws aimed at curbing the disruption of strikes by enforcing minimum service levels in key sectors such as health care and transportation. MPs on Monday backed the bill, but unions criticized it as an attack on the right to strike.
Thousands are expected to join protests against the law in London and other cities on Wednesday.
TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said labor unrest will continue until the government considers offering acceptable salaries.
“The message to the government is that this will not go away. These problems will not magically go away,” he said.
The Trade Union Congress, a trade union federation, estimates that up to 500,000 workers nationwide will lose their jobs, including teachers, university workers, civil servants, border guards and train and bus drivers.
Further actions are planned over the next few days and weeks, including by nurses and rescue workers.
Britons have endured months of turmoil in their daily lives amid lingering bitter disputes over wages and working conditions between trade unions and the government. But Wednesday’s strike marks an escalation of disruptive measures in several key industries. The last major strike on this scale was in 2011, when well over a million public sector workers went on strike throughout the day over their pensions.
Union officials say many public sector workers are in financial trouble as their wages cannot keep up with rising inflation, despite some pay increases, including his 5% wage increase the government has proposed for teachers.
The National Education Federation said about 23,000 schools were affected as of Wednesday, with an estimated 85% closed in whole or in part. Others range from museum employees and London bus drivers to Coast Guard and Border Patrol officers stationed at passport control booths at airports.
“Everyone left, Of course, there will be some confusion and lines,” Border Force Secretary Phil Douglas told reporters.
Mick Whelan, general secretary of the train drivers union ASLEF, said the government must listen to workers’ demands.
“Everybody knows someone who works somewhere and is on strike, about to strike, or has been chosen to go on strike,” he said. “Simply put, the government needs to listen now. People in this country are talking a lot about wanting a higher cost of living.”
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s office acknowledged that Wednesday’s strike would cause “serious disruption” to people, arguing that “negotiating rather than picket lines is the right approach.” say they rejected enough negotiations and proposals to stop the strike.
Unions are also angry at the government’s plans to introduce new laws aimed at curbing the disruption of strikes by enforcing minimum service levels in key sectors such as health care and transportation. MPs on Monday backed the bill, but unions criticized it as an attack on the right to strike.
Thousands are expected to join protests against the law in London and other cities on Wednesday.
TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said labor unrest will continue until the government considers offering acceptable salaries.
“The message to the government is that this will not go away. These problems will not magically go away,” he said.
