Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media: Person behind shooting operation at Allenby Crossing is a Jordanian Army soldier.
Israeli media citing Emergency Services: Both wounded in Allenby shooting operation now dead.
Israeli media: One soldier wounded at Allenby crossing now confirmed killed.
Israeli media: Preliminary reports of shooting operation at Allenby crossing with Jordan.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Two were martyred in an initial toll of the Israeli drone strike that targeted the al-Asira neighborhood in the city of Baalbek, eastern Lebanon
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: An Israeli drone strike targeted the al-Asira neighborhood east of Baalbek, eastern Lebanon
Sheikh Naim Qassem to the pager attack survivors: You are the greatest resistance. Know that 'Israel' will fall because it embodies aggression, crime, and occupation; victory is truly yours
Sheikh Qassem to the pager attack survivors: The value of what you are doing despite your wounds is immense, and here you are, treading the path of the Master of Nation's Martyrs and the leaders
Sheikh Qassem to the pager attack survivors: You are moving forward with insight deeper than sight itself. The enemy sought to eliminate your role in the battle, yet you remain steadfast and continue the fight
Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem to the pager attack survivors one year later: You are healing from your wounds and rising above them. You have successfully passed the test

About half a million workers demand wage increases in UK

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 1 Feb 2023 23:22
  • 1 Shares
3 Min Read

In the largest protest in over a decade, the UK unions announce they're prepared to strike throughout the summer as they demand increased wages amid rising inflation.

  • x
  • Thousands of demonstrators wave banners as they stand near Downing Street in Westminster in London, Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023 (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
    Thousands of demonstrators wave banners as they stand near Downing Street in Westminster in London, Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023 (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

In the largest walkout in 12 years, about 500,000 workers in the UK went on strike on Wednesday, disrupting schools and transportation as they demanded increased wages.

The strike occurred a day after the French mass demonstrations, which encompassed 1.27million people. The two demonstrations foreshadow an incoming and possibly inevitable cost-of-living crisis.

The Trades Union Congress (TUC), the overarching labor organization in the UK, considered the protests as the "biggest day of strike action since 2011." The most recent groups to take action included border force personnel at UK air and seaports, as well as teachers, and train drivers.

Absolutely massive demonstration in London with @NEUnion @pcs_union @ucu @ASLEFunion @RMTunion strikers and many thousands of supporters showing their solidarity! The Tories should be very very afraid. #1Feb #Strike #Protest #Resist pic.twitter.com/3PKr9UMrJ4

— Shabbir Lakha (@ShabbirLakha) February 1, 2023

Graham, a union representative who preferred not to disclose his last name, said "We are striking because, for the past 10 years, we had effectively had a pay cut" and explained that "some of our members, even though they are working, still have to make visits to food banks," he told AFP. 

The representative further highlighted that "Not only are wages not keeping up, but things like fares, council tax, and rents are going up. Anything we get is eaten away."

In the face of this strike, Education Minister Gillian Keegan expressed disappointment with the teachers' walkout on Times Radio as hundreds of schools were shut for the day.

#TeacherStrike in central #London. They are demonstrating from the BBC to Westminster. They demand better pay. #strikes #UK pic.twitter.com/B2QNUMUFt7

— Alexander Seale (@AlexSeale) February 1, 2023

Related News

UK junior doctors commence six-day strike, longest in NHS history

UK PM says 'anti-math mindset' costs UK billions of pounds

General Secretary of the Public and Commercial Services Union, Mark Serwotka, said the government's position was "unsustainable". He told Sky News that "it's not feasible that they can sit back with this unprecedented amount of industrial action growing, because it's half a million today."

Serwotka warned that the unions are prepared to hold extended strikes, even throughout the summer and noted that "Next week, we have paramedics, and we have nurses, there will then be the firefighters."

As for British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, he said on Monday, as he addressed health workers that "Nothing would give me more pleasure than, to wave a magic wand and have all of you paid lots more."

Earlier on January 29, Sunak promised the British parliament that his administration will be restoring economic stability after his predecessor's tax plans triggered market turmoil. 

Sunak, since taking on his role as PM, ripped up a number of Liz Truss' policies frustrating the country, in addition to reinstating the ban on fracking and putting under review large-scale deregulation policies in the economy, initially part of Truss' plans.

"We will have to take difficult decisions to restore economic stability and confidence," Sunak told the House of Commons. "We will do this in a fair way."

"I will always protect the most vulnerable. We did it in COVID and we will do it again," he said.

Conservatives perceive Sunak as a "safe pair of hands" in hopes that he will bring stability to the economy heading toward an inevitable recession. 

Read more: 1.27 - 2.8 million French protesters march against Macron reform plan

  • UK strikes
  • Rishi Sunak
  • UK
  • London

Most Read

Why is Choose Love using a firm with British and US intelligence connections to run a pro-Palestine musical event? (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Together for Palestine: Troubling questions about the organisers of this huge event

  • Opinion
  • 17 Sep 2025
Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza.

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza

  • Politics
  • 12 Sep 2025
A screengrab from the ad played on Fox News. (X Screengrab)

Fox airs ad warning Trump not to let Netanyahu 'play' him on Gaza

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Lapid: Egypt’s Arab Force plan a 'severe blow' to normalization

Lapid: Egypt’s Arab Force plan a 'severe blow' to normalization

  • Palestine
  • 14 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A Hezbollah supporter who lost his sight in a pager attack carried out by "Israel" on Sept. 17, 2024, covers his eyes with a red headband inscribed with the name "Hussein" during Ashoura, July 6, 2025 (AP)
Politics

'We Have Recovered': Lebanon marks 1st anniversary of Pager Attack

The Arab neighborhood of El Za'im, on the outskirts of east Occupied Al-Quds in the West Bank, near where Israeli government says housing units will be built as part of the E1 settlement project, Thursday, August 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Palestine

'Israel’s' deliberate policies drive West Bank economy toward collapse

Ben & Jerry's ice cream shop, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Cambridge, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Politics

Ben & Jerry’s co-founder resigns over parent company curbing activism

Trump’s approval rating falls to new low in second term: Poll
US & Canada

Trump’s approval rating falls to new low in second term: Poll

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS