Hundreds of thousands of workers in the UK went on strike
More than 400 thousand employees from different sectors, who argue that their salaries have been decreasing over the years due to the increase in the cost of living and inflation, carried out a collective strike and organized a march the day the government announced the ” Spring Term” budget.
Protesters marching from Hyde Park in the capital London to the famous Trafalgar Square, holding banners reading “Teachers deserve better pay”, “We work hard, we are too tired, we have too little pay” and “Enough is enough”. Salary increase”.
Subsequently, the union representatives who participated in the demonstration and the deputies of the main opposition Labor Party gave speeches on the platform set up in the square.
The strike, which was attended by hundreds of thousands of workers across the country, registered as one of the largest industrial protests since the strike wave began last year.
“TEACHERS SHOULD NOT HAVE SOAP IN THE SCHOOL TOILETS”
Emma Runswick, vice-president of the British Medical Association (BMA), to which GPs are affiliated, noted that 70,000 GPs across the country are on strike and work for £14 an hour (about 320 lira).
Saying that doctors are leaving to work in other countries with better conditions and pay, Runswick said: “The government is trying to divide us, but we are more united than ever. We represent 70 percent of general practitioners. They call us militant, they call us selfish, but we deserve better. Let’s stand together, strike together and win together.” he said.
Annie Morgan of the National Education Union (NEU) said: “Teachers should not buy their own printers for their classrooms, should not cry in the toilets from stress during break, should not buy toilet paper or soap in the toilets from school”. saying.
Expressing that teachers deserve better conditions, Morgan said: “Today we are not disrupting education, we are teaching our students to stand up for justice.” he said.
“IMMIGRANTS ARE NOT THE REASON FOR THE DIFFICULTY OF LIVING”
Paul Nowak, the General Secretary of the Workers’ Union Congress, the umbrella organization for 48 unions and 5.5 million workers in England and Wales, declared that more than 500,000 workers are on strike today and said: “Schools are experiencing a shortage of funds. and staff Jeremy Hunt (Finance Minister who announced the spring budget) today said nothing about the public sector, nothing about schools, nothing about payments”. saying.
Noting that the employees left the UK in search of better conditions, Nowak said: “The government does not deserve to sit in those offices today.” he used the phrase.
Labor MP Zarah Sultana also claimed that employees of the Amazon company in England went on strike for the first time in the company’s history: “We are not experiencing a livelihood problem because there is enough wealth. There is simply not enough wealth for the super rich. Instead of addressing it, the government targets the most vulnerable groups. Immigrants are not the cause of livelihoods, it is not immigrants who make schools like this.” he said.
“DOCTORS GO ABROAD FOR BETTER SALARY”
Sami Siadati, one of the GPs taking part in the march, told Anadolu Agency (AA) that he is a pediatrician at Luton and Dunstable Hospital, saying: “We are here today to demand that our salaries go back to 2008 levels. in real terms. terms. Since 2008, we have cut our salaries by 26.1 percent in real terms.” saying.
Stating that general practitioners left their jobs with the demand for better pay, Siadati pointed out that many doctors went abroad for better pay.
“We are losing too many doctors because doctors go to countries like Australia and New Zealand for better pay. Doctors (who go to these countries) will have a better quality of life and receive double the salary. So we’re losing a lot of doctors and the public is suffering because of it.” he used his statements.
GP Siadati, speaking of the “spring term” budget announced by UK Chancellor of Finance Jeremy Hunt, said: “Expectations are zero. Every year we are disappointed. We don’t expect anything to change this year either.” saying.
“THE GOVERNMENT IS TAKING ATTENTION TO THE MAIN PROBLEM AND PAYING THE ACCOUNT TO THE IMMIGRANTS”
Saying that he is an immigrant math teacher, Ahmad stated that the education system in the country has many problems, saying:
“The government refuses to act on this issue. I don’t like the language the government uses with immigrants. They distract attention from the real problem and blame immigrants and asylum seekers. The UK needs a great maths teacher. I didn’t steal anyone’s work and I really want to contribute to this community.”
Ahmad also noted that children are experiencing the effects of the education budget and teacher shortages, adding: “The number of students in classrooms, the need for trained teachers and teacher assistants is increasing.” saying.
DOCTORS’ STRIKE CONTINUES
The 3-day strike, which tens of thousands of general practitioners began on March 13 due to the salary increase and the discrepancy in working conditions, will end today. However, ongoing pay increase negotiations between UK Health Minister Steve Barclay and the British Medical Association (BMA) have yet to reach an agreement.
70,000 employees of 150 universities affiliated with the UCU union in the country also began a 2-day strike due to the conflict over the salary increase.
BBC EMPLOYEES ARE ALSO ON STRIKE
A thousand workers at BBC local radio in the UK have gone on strike for 24 hours over program cuts.
The BBC had to cancel local news broadcasts on BBC One today due to the strike. (AA)