Hundreds of thousands of workers will strike today in what could be the largest strike since the current wave of industrial action began.
Teachers, university lecturers, civil servants, newly graduated doctors, London Underground drivers and BBC journalists will line up fences across the country to fit the prime minister’s budget, amid continued dissatisfaction with issues including wages, employment, pensions and working conditions.
London commuters have been notified there will be “little or no service” on the Tube because of the disruption caused by the strike by members of Aslef and the Railway, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union.
Members of the National Union of Journalists working at BBC Local across the UK will hold a 24-hour strike over program cuts.
While junior doctors in the British Medical Association will keep walking for three days they debuted on Monday than salary.
So far, negotiations between unions and the government have resolved little of the ongoing dispute, although some strikes, such as those of teachers, will only be held in England after making progress in Wales and Scotland.
Read more:
Who will take industrial action in 2023 and when?
UK lost 220,000 working days to strike action in January
Strike may last until the end of the year
Trade union general secretary Mark Serwotka warned the move was just the start of a series of strikes that could last until the end of the year.
He said: “On budget day, we ask Prime Minister Jeremy Hunt to give a fair pay increase to our hard working members.
“We got a 2% raise when food inflation was 16% last week. 40,000 civil servants use food banks and 45,000 claim benefits at work because they are too poor.
“The government can stop these strikes today by putting money on the table for our members.”
He added: “Shamefully, ministers don’t appear to be interested in giving their employees a fair wage increase to help them weather the cost of living crisis and beyond.”
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Young doctors begin to walk for three days
Teachers ‘don’t want to strike’
Mary Bousted and Kevin Courtney, general secretary of the National Education Federation, said: “We don’t want to strike – we want to be in the classroom, teaching and supporting children and young people.
“It’s unfortunate that our members had to take strike action, but we know that parents and the public understand the seriousness of the situation around school funding and hiring. and retain teachers.”
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Minister says action will disrupt children’s education
Education Minister Gillian Keegan said in an open letter to parents: “This industrial action will mean more disruption to your children’s education and your lives – whether it’s for work, child care arrangements, or other changes in plans.
“I am deeply disappointed that many young people will once again miss out on invaluable learning time with their teachers and friends, especially after their education was significantly disrupted during the pandemic. “
