It is estimated that half a million workers in numerous industries want to retire this Wednesday. They are demonstrating mainly for significantly higher wage increases, but also for better working conditions – and for the right to strike in itself. Seven trade unions called their members to industrial action and coordinated the nationwide day of protest. In large parts of the United Kingdom, a standstill is imminent. Downing Street warned of “significant disruption”.
Teachers and train drivers, university lecturers and government employees, bus drivers and security forces are now striking simultaneously. Dissatisfaction is huge in all sectors. More strikes have already been announced for the coming days, for example again on Monday and Tuesday by the nursing staff of the GGD.
Another headache for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s conservative government is likely that firefighters recently voted to go on strike. The strikers are united above all by their demand for an inflation-based wage increase. Consumer prices have recently risen by no less than 10 percent.
For example, the government offers teachers five percent more wages. Far too little, the teachers’ union scolded NEW, emphasizing: “It’s not about a pay rise, it’s about correcting historic cuts in real wages.” Real wages have fallen by 23 percent since 2010 and many teachers are leaving their jobs because of poor pay, adding to the pressure on those who stay. In England and Wales, an estimated 120,000 teachers now want to take a day off work. About 23,000 schools remain closed.
The teachers are joined by tens of thousands of employees from 150 universities and drivers from 14 private railway companies. There are also about 100,000 public sector employees from 124 different government agencies, as well as driving school examiners.
The government refuses renegotiations. Prime Minister Sunak stressed that his door is always open for negotiations. However, this does not seem to apply to salary interviews. The 42-year-old has repeatedly warned that an inflation-based increase would only fuel the “vicious cycle” of ever-rising consumer prices.
Employee dissatisfaction is fueled by a controversial government project. Sunak and his business secretary, Grant Shapps, have had enough of the ongoing labor disputes since last summer and now want to pass legislation restricting the right to strike. There should then be strict restrictions on police officers, firefighters, NHS workers or railway staff. Sunak states that this should guarantee basic services.
“People can’t freely choose when they need an ambulance or the fire department,” Shapps justified his draft, which strikes a reasonable balance between the right to strike and the needs of the population. On Monday, the Tory-dominated House of Commons passed the bill on third reading. But resistance is expected in the upper house. The unions in particular have strongly criticized the plans.
The project was “undemocratic, unfeasible and almost certainly illegal,” complained TUC union federation general secretary Paul Nowak. The unions have declared the day of the big strike as “Protect the right to strike”. Dozens of protests are planned across the country. The opposition also warns that the law would mean workers should fear losing their jobs. Labor Vice President Angela Rayner calls the law the “fire the nurses” – and apparently strikes a chord. Polls show a majority support the strikers. In the eyes of many, the government is to blame for the chaos.
While the Conservatives have repeatedly been able to blame the Labor Party, which is closely linked to the trade unions, for the impact of the strikes, observers believe this approach is no longer working. Too many people are themselves affected by rising energy and food prices. “Because of the cost-of-living crisis, these strikes can no longer be portrayed as ideology-driven,” James Frayne of Public First consultancy told the online portal “Politico”.
On the contrary, the perceived stubbornness of the government weighs on the opinion polls. Labor has been in the lead for months and there is no sign of a turnaround. From now on, the Tories must fear a debacle in the parliamentary elections scheduled for 2024.
Nevertheless: Sunak will not budge, my comrades. On the contrary, the Prime Minister gets their support from them. “We have to keep our nerves,” Politico quoted a Tory MP as saying. Inflation will soon fall further, reducing pressure on consumers. “That’s why we have to stay as tough as possible.” (sda/dpa)
Soource :Watson
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
