Civil servants rally for more pay outside Downing Street (Picture: Aaron Chown/PA Wire)
Striking workers brought much of the UK to a standstill yesterday, as picket lines were mounted outside schools and universities, hospitals, Tube stations and government buildings.
Up to 500,000 teachers, lecturers, junior doctors, civil servants and Tube drivers walked out in the biggest strike of a long-running row over pay, jobs, pensions, working conditions and funding cuts.
And unions warned such action could continue until the end of the year.
At rallies outside Downing Street and in Trafalgar Square, workers slammed No.10 over its handling of the disputes.
Tube stations across the capital were closed and scores of services cancelled as drivers walked out to protest job cuts.
And Finn Brennan of Aslef warned more action is ‘inevitable’ if ministers continue to ignore calls to end a stand-off.
A demonstrator speaks through a loud hailer as she holds a placard during a protest by junior doctors (Picture: Paul Ellis/AFP via Getty)
Kevin Courtney, of the National Education Union, apologised for the disruption school closures would have on children’s education and parents’ home and work lives.
But he told Times Radio: ‘Parents understand the point we’re making – that this generation of children, so hard-hit by Covid, has been ignored by this government.
Warren Street Underground station was closed due to strikes (Picture: James Veysey/Shutterstock)
‘It is no good politicians saying, “The economy is not doing well, we’ll invest in five years time”. Children are losing out compared with other generations, and we are demanding investment for them.’
About 150,000 civil servants also walked out and junior doctors staged the final day of their 72-hour strike.
Unions say ministers are refusing to give members a decent rise to help them through the cost of living crisis. No.10 says their demands are unaffordable.
BBC journalists also staged strikes over planned cuts to local radio output, and staff at Amazon in Coventry walked out in a row over pay.
Striking workers brought much of the UK to a standstill.