◀ Anchor ▶
In the UK, suffering from rising inflation, large-scale strikes continue to demand that wages be raised in line with inflation.
Up to 500,000 people, including teachers, civil servants, and railway operators, took to the streets, and the government is fighting back, claiming that raising wages will again affect prices.
Reporter Kim Jung-in covered the story.
◀ Report ▶
Lucy Preston, a school teacher in London, decided to take on tutoring as a side job.
He decided to give up evenings with his children because he could not afford childcare costs with his teacher’s salary.
[루시 프레스톤 / 영국 교사]
“If I could earn enough money not to have to take tutoring at night, I would have a much happier life.”
The impatient teachers took to the streets.
As 300,000 teachers went on strike, 85% of the 23,000 public schools in England and Wales were closed, with some students and parents joining the protests.
[이사 예보아-아산테 / 영국 학생]
“My school is struggling because teachers don’t have enough money to pay their salaries.”
Up to 500,000 people, including not only teachers but also public officials and railway engineers, took part in the strike, the largest since 2011.
## Advertisements ## Part of the railway was paralyzed and the British Museum was also closed.
They claim they are suffering from the cost of living as wages have not risen despite the annual inflation rate of over 10%.
[마크 세르워카 / 영국공무원노조 사무총장]
“We provide services on the front line, but we have to use food banks, and the government has to do something about it.
The British government is taking a hard line against unions, saying that accepting pay rises would make the inflation problem worse.
[리시 수낵 / 영국 총리]
“In terms of teachers alone, we have the highest pay rise for teachers in 30 years. Children’s education is valuable, and they need to get it in schools today.”
Teachers are criticizing the government’s 5% pay rise plan as a de facto pay cut, given the rise in prices.
In addition, nurses, paramedics and firefighters are also set to go on strike, so strikes over public sector pay in the UK are expected to continue in the future.
This is Kim Jung-in from MBC News.
Video Editing: Nayeon Kwon
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