Half a Million UK Workers Strike for Higher Pay Amidst Cost-of-Living Crisis

Widespread Industrial Action Grips UK

On Wednesday, February 1, 2023, the United Kingdom experienced its largest coordinated industrial action in over a decade, as approximately 500,000 workers across various sectors went on strike. The mass walkout, dubbed 'Walkout Wednesday' by some media, saw civil servants, teachers, university employees, and railway drivers demanding higher pay and improved working conditions amidst a severe cost-of-living crisis and high inflation rates.

Key Sectors Affected by Strikes

The strike action impacted several critical public services, leading to significant disruption across the country. Key groups participating included:

• Teachers: Around 300,000 teachers, primarily members of the National Education Union (NEU), walked out, resulting in the full or partial closure of approximately 85 percent of schools in England and Wales.
• Civil Servants: Over 100,000 civil servants, represented by the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), joined the strike. Their action affected government departments, regulators, museums, jobcentres, and border posts, where military personnel were deployed to mitigate disruption.
• University Staff: Approximately 70,000 lecturers from 150 universities, members of the University and College Union (UCU), also participated, leading to widespread closures in higher education.
• Railway Drivers: Members of the ASLEF and RMT unions, totaling around 12,500 train drivers, caused extensive disruption to rail services, with only about a third of trains operating across the network.

Demands for Fairer Wages Amidst Inflation

The primary motivation behind the widespread strikes was the demand for pay rises that keep pace with the UK's high inflation, which stood at over 10 percent at the time. Unions argued that years of stagnant wage growth, coupled with the escalating cost of living, had led to a significant real-terms pay cut for their members. The Trades Union Congress (TUC) highlighted that the average public sector worker was considerably worse off compared to 2010 when accounting for inflation.

Government Response and Legislative Measures

The government acknowledged the potential for 'significant disruption' due to the strikes. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's administration urged unions to engage in negotiations rather than industrial action, arguing that inflation-matching pay increases would further fuel price rises. In response to the ongoing industrial unrest, the government introduced the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill. This legislation aimed to mandate minimum service levels in critical sectors, including health, education, and transport, during strike periods. Unions, however, criticized the bill as an attack on the fundamental right to strike and accused the government of not seriously engaging in negotiations.