◀ Anchor ▶
In the UK, which is suffering from soaring inflation, large-scale strikes are continuing to demand that wages be raised in line with inflation.
Up to 500,000 people, including teachers, civil servants, and railroad operators, took to the streets, and the government is fighting back, claiming that raising wages will affect prices again.
Reporter Kim Jung-in covered the story.
◀ Report ▶
Lucy Preston, a schoolteacher in London, decided to take up tutoring as a side job.
He decided to give up evening time with his children because he couldn’t afford childcare expenses with his teacher’s salary.
[루시 프레스톤 / 영국 교사]
“If I could earn enough money to not have to take tutoring in the evenings, 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 railroad engineers, took part in the strike, the largest since 2011.
## Advertisements ##Part of the railroad was paralyzed and the British Museum was also closed.
They claim that they are suffering from living expenses as wages have not risen despite the annual inflation rate of over 10%.
[마크 세르워카 / 영국공무원노조 사무총장]
“We are providing services on the front lines, but we have to use food banks. The government has to do something about it.
The British government is taking a tough line against unions, saying that accepting wage increases 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 precious, and they need to get it in schools today.”
Teachers criticize the government’s 5% wage increase plan as a de facto wage cut, considering the rise in prices.
In addition, nurses, paramedics and firefighters are also poised to go on strike, so strikes over public sector wages 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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