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Tens of Thousands of Teachers, Lecturers and Civil Servants in England Strike. PHOTOS/Reuters
BIRMINGHAM – Tens of thousands guru schools, university staff and lecturer train drivers, and many other civil servants from various fields demonstrated as part of strike action in England, Wednesday (1/2/2023).
As quoted by Anadolu Agency, such widespread strike action has not happened since the previous wage dispute in 2011, when more than one million workers took to the streets to demonstrate.
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The National Education Union says around 300,000 teachers across the UK are on strike because they have suffered at least a 23% pay cut since 2010. Like many others across sectors, teachers are also demanding increases above the country’s soaring double-digit inflation rate.
While most schools are closed completely or partially, travel has also been disrupted with workers organizing pickets and rallies. The Trade Union Congress (TUC), which represents all the country’s unions, has announced rallies across the UK.
Most of those striking are expected to join nationwide demonstrations where workers protest the government’s anti-strike law passed in the lower house of parliament.
Baca: At the beginning of the year, the strike action in Great Britain is increasingly widespread
The bill imposes restrictions on industrial action in certain sectors, as the government says it supports the right to strike, but also wants to take the public interest into account.
“Opposition members who object to minimum safety levels need to explain to their constituents why if you have a heart attack, stroke or life-threatening illness on strike day, there are no minimum safety standards in place,” said UK Business Secretary Grant Shapps.
TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said the law “will prolong disputes and poison industrial relations, leading to more frequent strikes.”
