[앵커]
Around 500,000 teachers, civil servants and engine drivers in the UK went on strike demanding higher wages, and 85% of schools were closed.
In the future, strikes in the public sector are expected to continue as nurses, paramedics, and the railway unions also announce strikes.
This is reporter Kim Seon-hee.
[기자]
In central London, England, teachers who should be at school were taking their children to the streets.
They went on a massive strike saying they could no longer bear the inflation rate of over 10% a year.
[메리 바우스티드 / 전국교육연합 사무총장 : 오늘 잉글랜드와 웨일즈에서 교사들이 파업을 벌이는 이유는 지난 12년 동안 급여가 정말 비극적으로 오랜 기간 감소했기 때문입니다.]
Up to 500,000 people, including teachers, civil servants and train drivers, joined the movement, closing schools and stopping trains.
This is the biggest since the 2011 strike, which involved around 1 million people, and 85% of schools are affected.
They argued that wages had fallen more than in 2010 as the government offered a 5 per cent wage rise but could not keep up with rising inflation.
“Prime Minister Rishi Sunak listen to us. You must raise our salary.”
Inflation in Britain hit 10.5%, the highest in 40 years as food and energy prices soared.
The economic outlook for this year is also bleak, with negative growth expected, the only one among the seven major countries and the G7.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is calling for negotiations, saying massive strikes would lead to major unrest.
[리시 수낵 / 영국 총리 : 우리 아이들의 교육은 소중하고 그들은 학교에서 가르침을 받을 자격이 있습니다.]
However, it is not an easy situation to find a solution.
The unions are not going to pay back, but if they raise wages, there is a risk of higher inflation.
Going forward, it is expected that confusion will continue for the time being as nurses, paramedics, railway unions and firefighters announce strikes.
This is Kim Seon-hee’s YTN.
YTN Kim Seon-hee (sunny@ytn.co.kr)
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