By Sonny Fernandez
Nurses and other healthcare workers gather in London chanting slogans calling for pay hikes on Wednesday,
February 1, 2023. Video courtesy of Gene Alcantara
Dismayed over the government's refusal to grant a fair pay hike in the face of double-digit inflation, an estimated half-a-million workers across England, Wales, and Scotland walked off their jobs on Wednesday, February 1.
The British Office for National Statistics (ONS) pegged inflation at a still 40-year high of 10.5% as of December 2022 despite a slight decline from the November figure of 10.7%. Inflation is the change in prices of goods and services over time. Thousands came out in droves sending clear and strong messages that they are experiencing the crunch of the high cost-of-living and are seeking a take-home pay to a level they can live on.
London nurses hold placards asking for fair pay and support from motorists during last Wednesday´s industrial action, the biggest in UK in over a decade. Photo courtesy of Gene Alcantara. According to ONS, worker pay averaged at 6.4% year-on-year over the September to November period failing to keep pace with rising prices. A survey conducted by the insight platform, New Possible, says on average, UK workers consider a fair raise of 9%. Intransigent, the government responded with an offer of 4% to 5% raises for public sector employees and an anti-strike bill intended to exempt some service sectors from industrial actions.
Civil servants from over 120 government departments including higher education staff, teachers, and train workers, joined in by workers from unions, bus services, students, climate activists nurses, and midwives, brought London to a standstill where the Trade Union Congress called on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to deliver on the public sector pay demand. Most schools were closed and railways services disrupted as workers set up picket lines and rallies. The protesters marched towards Downing Street whistling, chanting, cheering with music playing tambourines and dancing.
Nurses in London join industrial action as Trade Union Congress criticizes the government for intransigence over strikers' demands and plan to limit labour strikes. Photo courtesy of Gene Alcantara.
In Scotland, STV News says around 50,000 workers north of the border staged a coordinated day of action they branded as "Walkout Wednesday" following a labour proposal by the UK government to change laws and contain industrial action.
In Wales, Wales online reported that nearly all school classes were interrupted by the strike as staff formed a picket line in front of schools and joined actions in Cardiff, Swansea, Aberystwyth, Colwyn Bay, and Machynlleth.
Filipinos living and working in London are not spared of the economic squeeze either. Global Justice Now Head of Policy and Advocacy, Dorothy Guerrero, joined the protest to support the workers’ call for fair pay. "UK residents face a 40% hike in energy bills from April on top of soaring bills and cost-of-living crisis. Many families are pushed into poverty price hike and choosing between eating and heating," she explains. Also a climate justice advocate, Guerrero slammed oil empires for energy and environmental woes, "we join protests to criticise lack of government plans and corruption: we fight giant oil companies that are gaining insane amount of profits by harming people and planet, we fight capitalism."
Dorothy Guerrero, Head of Policy and Advocacy of Global Justice Now, (left of photo) laments that “
many families are pushed into poverty by energy price hike and choosing between eating and heating.”
Photo courtesy of Dorothy Guerrero.
EM Araceli Reyes who works in a big accounting firm, also complains about high energy bills and believes the call of workers for salary increase is justified.
“Mataas na po kasi mga bilihin ngayon, pati kuryente at heating,” she laments. High prices pushed them to be more prudent in spending. To cut off expenses, Guerrero said they are using an energy monitoring device to keep track of energy use. "We don't waste food. We cook/re-heat left-overs and we just don't do belt-tightening," she adds. Reyes, who is only a year in the UK, said she cooks food and brings it to work so she will not have to buy expensive meals and save more for her family back in the Philippines "Pag pumapasok ako sa office, ako ay nagbabaon na lamang. Paminsan-minsan, may mga kainan na nag-50% discount sa gabi, inaabangan namin yun, hahaha," says Reyes.
She narrated that costly heating consumption compels them to turn it off at night and wrap themselves up in two-layer jackets and blankets.
"Nagpapakulo kami ng mainit na tubig at ilalagay sa hot compress para yun ang yakap-yakap namin pag matutulog para di lamigin," she adds.
She and her flatmate also walk in going to work, "dahil mataas na rin ang pamasahe sa bus, ako ay naglalakad na lamang galing sa tube station pauwi ng flat. Mga 15 minutes na lakad din ito na may kasamang malamig na hangin."
Filipina newbie employee in London, EM Araceli "Bitang" Reyes, shocked by rising cost-of-living,
copes by bringing her own food and walking in going to office.
Photo courtesy of EM Araceli Reyes.
Meanwhile, nurses, ambulance workers and firefighters also plan more actions in the days ahead while teaching union in Scotland sees the rallies to run into March and April.
UK workers demand pay hikes that will keep pace with double-digit inflation on Wednesday, February 1, 2023. Video courtesy of Gene Alcantara
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