After nurses, railway workers and others, teachers increase headache for Rishi Sunak’s government
Teachers in England and Wales are expected to announce strike action later today, following nurses, rail workers and others, adding to the headache for British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s government.
The voting result of the teachers belonging to the National Education Union (NEU) is expected to be announced at 19:00 Greek time today. The Sunday Times newspaper, citing union sources, said its members in England and Wales had voted to start strike action in February.
Sunac is under increasing pressure to settle a pay dispute with hundreds of thousands of workers after months of strike action that has caused widespread unrest.
With inflation running at more than 10%, workers in many sectors are demanding higher wages.
The NEU announced that the government had offered its members a 5% pay rise, which it said did not offset the pay cut caused by the price rise. Low pay for teachers has also pushed many to leave the profession, according to the union.
The government has said it cannot afford large wage increases and has warned that any large wage increase will worsen the country’s inflation problem.
Last week, a strike vote by another teachers’ union in England failed to get the required number of votes, but strike action by the NEU, the UK’s biggest teachers’ union with around 500,000 members, is reported to be going ahead.
Teachers in Scotland have already gone on strike, which has caused many schools to close. 16-day rolling strikes began today.
It would be “regrettable” if the decision was made by teachers to strike, Transportation Minister Mark Harper said yesterday, Sunday.
Although there are hopes that a new proposal for rail workers may end strike action in the sector, representatives of nurses have warned that their own strikes may intensify.
Members of the Royal Association of Nurses will strike on Wednesday and Thursday and the union has warned that its next round of strikes could be stronger, with double the number of nurses taking part in strike action in England in February if no solution is found.
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With a wealth of experience honed over 4+ years in journalism, I bring a seasoned voice to the world of news. Currently, I work as a freelance writer and editor, always seeking new opportunities to tell compelling stories in the field of world news.
