About 500,000 workers in the UK have planned a strike on Wednesday to mark the UK’s biggest protest action in over ten years. Security guards, bus drivers, university lecturers, civil servants, train drivers, and teachers from seven unions intend to strike. Meanwhile, the protests will coincide with strikes against the new law on minimum service levels the government proposed.
Most unions have named the strike an ‘anti-strike bill,’ claiming that it might result in workers voting legally to protest against losing their job positions. Mr. Paul Nowak, the TUC (Trades Union Congress) secretary, believes that the strikes will mark a ‘really important day for members and workers of the public. He says the strike will showcase support for Americans defending the right to strike, services, jobs, and income.
The protest intends to communicate to the government that they cannot ignore fair pay. Nonetheless, the government had allegedly ignored the concern and staffing crisis of millions of public service workers. Britain has struggled with a wave of strikes due to the rising inflation rate. The strikes include nurses and ambulance workers, hampering the health sector.
In any case, the protest against below-inflation raises comes with a severe cost-of-living crisis that the UK had not recorded in generations. The TUC secretary highlights that the government should be concerned with the level of unity in the upcoming strikes. For instance, physiotherapists joined the strike for the first time and remained determined to take industrial action.
The mood remained defiant and upbeat as workers received support from the public. Thus, the government is worried about public support for workers’ strikes since the issues could cut across political divisions. The chancellor and prime minister hope to identify plans to resolve the long-running protests in crucial public sectors such as civil service, education, and health service.
Reports indicate that protesters will mount picket lines outside government departments, universities, train stations, and schools as rallies rock the entire country. Overall, thousands of protesters will join the march through central London all the way to Westminster before the union leaders’ rally. On the other hand, the Trades Union Congress will submit a petition to 10 Downing Street with signs from over 200,000 citizens against the new legislation on strikes.
The NEU (National Education Union) has also announced seven-day protests in Wales and England. These strikes might occur through February and March, yet the walkout on Wednesday might impact over 230,000 schools. Above all, teachers who are union members from colleges in the UK will also strike in a separate yet connected dispute. The most intriguing part is that over 300 Amazon workers are protesting over a 5% pay rise that they claim is low.
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