Up to half a million British teachers, civil servants, train drivers, and university lecturers have walked out over pay and conditions in the largest coordinated strike action in a generation, as wages fail to keep pace with soaring inflation.
About 300,000 on strike on Wednesday are teachers, according to the Trades Union Congress (TUC).
Across schools in England and Wales, teachers formed picket lines as they called for higher salaries in demonstrations which have divided public opinion.
Some locals in cars beeped their horns and raised a fist in solidarity as they drove past, while others walking by, who disagreed with the industrial action, questioned teachers on their motives.
Home-schooling and home-working reminiscent of COVID lockdowns returned to many households, as school gates remained closed and most trains were halted.
According to a YouGov poll late last year, 59 percent were in favour of the education sector striking.
The National Education Union said some 23,000 schools will be affected on Wednesday, with an estimated 85 percent fully or partially closed.
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who crossed the picket lines to join striking workers in London, called for a “fairer taxation system”.
“This country cannot afford the levels of inequality we have,” Corbyn told Al Jazeera.
“There are more billionaires in Britain than ever before, many people, billionaires and millionaires, made a lot of money during COVID-19 they haven’t been taxed for it,” he added.
Source: aljazeera.com
