The country has faced a wave of social unrest for months as inflation remains above 10%. According to British media, this is the most important day of action in several years.
By Le Figaro with AFP
Published 3/15/2023 at 6:21 PM, updated 3/15/2023 at 6:26 PM
This content is not accessible to all.
Britain faced its biggest day of action in several years on Wednesday. PETER NICHOLLS / Portal
Hundreds of thousands of people, teachers, London Underground drivers, doctors, civil servants, went on strike across the UK on Wednesday demanding wage increases, the same day the Conservative government announced its budget. According to British media, this is the most important day of action in several years. The country has faced a wave of social unrest for months as inflation remains above 10%. Brits face rising food and energy prices. In London, the underground was at a standstill, the conductors of the “tube” had stopped their work. The stations remained closed. The teachers who are striking in England will continue their movement on Thursday.
This content is not accessible to all.
The teachers who are striking in England will continue their movement on Thursday. PETER NICHOLLS / Portal
“Fed up”
Thousands of them demonstrated in London in the middle of the day. Given the inadequacy of the government’s proposals, well below inflation of over 10%, many are leaving the profession at an “alarming” rate, Kim Allen, a teacher from London, told AFP and “we have a feeling the embassy doesn’t arrived through. “We’re literally sick of how we’re being treated,” “we’re coming together to tell the government we mean business,” she added in a wave of union flags in Trafalgar Square. The hospital doctors who started their action on Monday did not return to their posts and joined the demonstration.
This content is not accessible to all.
” ALSO READ – Historic strike in the UK
When Treasury Secretary Jeremy Hunt presented his budget to Parliament, officials demonstrated outside Downing Street with drums and whistles. “What do we want? 10%! When do we want it? Now!” chanted the protesters. Jil Gant, a 59-year-old prison service worker, called the government’s proposed 2% increase “insulting”. time for the government to listen to what we have to say,” she told AFP. “We are currently witnessing the biggest wave of strikes in the UK in years. Normal people say, ‘We’ve had enough,'” said Mark Serwotka, who General Secretary of PCS, the first public sector union.
“Scandal”
“In the UK we have the strongest anti-union legislation, it’s very difficult to organize a strike,” he told AFP. “The fact that so many people are on strike makes me optimistic that we can win.” Tens of thousands of officers are being forced to go to food banks while others have to “skip meals”, he had previously told Sky News. “It’s a real scandal (…) It’s a shame for the government that there is so much poverty in the public sector,” the trade unionist had criticized, stressing that civil servants “now have to ask for social assistance”.
” ALSO READ – UK: Public Health Service faces biggest strike in history
Presenting the budget on Wednesday, Jeremy Hunt estimated government purchasing power measures at £94 billion (€107.7 billion) over two years. In particular, the government announced the three-month extension of the household energy price cap, which should have been increased on April 1. Jeremy Hunt also announced a 12-month fuel tax freeze extension.