500 thousand people left their jobs in England, workers took to the streets
Many unions in England decided to go on strike together for the first time in their history. It is stated that today the biggest and widest strike of the last 10 years took place with the decision of the unions to unite the strike movements.
Tens of thousands of workers in the country, especially since the summer months of last year, joined the strikes claiming that the wage increases were below the cost of living.
According to BBC Turkish news, inflation in England rose last year and reached the highest level in 40 years at 11 percent in November.
One of the biggest reasons for the strikes is that the wage increase offers lagged behind this huge price increase.
THE SALARY OF TEACHERS DECREASED 23 PERCENT
Teacher salaries fell by an average of 11 percent in real terms between 2010 and 2022, according to the Institute for Financial Studies. Unions say this rate is actually 23 percent.
In England and Wales, teachers only received a 5 per cent raise last year. In Northern Ireland, it was 3.2 percent.
Speaking to the Reuters news agency, Mary Bousted, general secretary of the National Education Union, shared that declining wages are causing many to leave the profession and teachers feel they have no choice but to go on strike.
Speaking from outside a school in London, Bousted said: “There has been a really terrible long-term drop in teacher pay over the last 12 years.”
“None of the people here want to go on strike today, but they reluctantly say enough is enough and something has to change.”
Machinists are also among those who joined the strike movement, citing a 4 percent raise was offered in the past two years.
GOVERNMENT: WE EXPECT SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES
In addition to academic staff at universities, many employees, including administrators, librarians, and technicians, have decided to leave their jobs. University employees also went on strike for three days in November.
On the other hand, a new bill that provides for a minimum level of service during strikes in some sectors was approved yesterday in the House of Commons by a vote of 315 to 246. The bill will become law with the approval of the House of Lords.
Many are expected to protest the law, which stipulates that some employees can return to work during strikes in areas such as railways and emergency services, and that those who refuse to do so can be fired.
The government said yesterday that it expects “significant disruptions” today.
Britain’s Education Secretary Gillian Keegan has taken a tough stance against public sector workers, saying giving in to pay rises will only fuel inflation.
Occupations on strike today:
- Around 100,000 teachers and school support staff are expected to resign today in England and Wales. The strike is expected to affect 23,000 of the 26,000 schools.
- In Scotland, too, many teachers are leaving their jobs.
- Across the UK, thousands of people from 150 universities are expected to join the strike movement.
- In all, almost 100,000 civil servants working in 124 government ministries and departments are also on strike over wages and working conditions.
- Many train drivers are giving up their jobs in the UK.
- Some bus drivers are also on strike in London.
THE STRIKE WILL CONTINUE
The unions report that the strikes will not be limited to today. Teachers are also expected to resign on March 15 and 16.
The drivers will strike again on February 3, after today. University staff will be on strike for a total of 18 days in February and March.
Ambulance workers and nurses are also expected to go on strike for several days throughout February.