Disruptions expected as British workers walkout over unsolved pay disputes

By Aysu Bicer

LONDON (AA) - Hundreds of thousands of British workers from different sectors walkout on Wednesday as disputes with the government over pay and conditions continue.

Strikes have become a regular fixture in the UK as wage increases fail to keep pace with inflation, which remains above 10%.

Disruptions in schools and travel are expected as teachers in England and Wales begin their second round of strike action, while London Underground drivers represented by the Aslef trade union also strike over pension and work arrangements.

Junior doctors in England continue their 72-hour mass refusal to work, while civil servants are also walking out.

"The National Education Union of course regrets the inconvenience caused to parents, children and young people by strike action. However, the responsibility for this lies squarely with your department," the NEU said in a letter to the country's education secretary.

"Parents see daily the effect that the teacher recruitment and retention crisis, alongside woeful school funding, is having on their children’s education ... While we sincerely apologize for this disruption on Wednesday and Thursday, as a result of strike action, we believe that parents recognise the need for change," it added.

Industrial action by the teachers represented by the NEU is expected to continue on Thursday, along with strikes by university staff at more than 150 universities across the UK, as well as Rail, Maritime and Transport Union (RMT) members.

"Attacks on pensions, conditions and job losses will not be tolerated and the travelling public needs to understand that understaffed and unstaffed stations are unsafe. We will continue our industrial campaign for as long as it takes," RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is expected to present his 2023 tax and spending plans to lawmakers in the House of Commons later on Wednesday.