‘Strikes are all we have’: UK workers united in a winter of discontent

Britain has been hit by a wave of industrial action this winter, as nurses, teachers and other public sector workers have gone on strike over pay and conditions.

This has put them on a direct collision course with the government, which has introduced legislation to parliament that would make it harder for workers to strike. Adam Sich and Maeve Shearlaw spent a month talking to workers on the picket lines and protests to ask how the cost of living crisis is hitting them at home – and in their jobs

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#strikes #rmt #rcn #tradeunions #neu #nasuwt #strikers #uk #costofliving

[MrDos]

Nurses were there for me when i had Covid and had to be on my own hoping i would not be put in a coma. This one nurse saw how scared i was and was able to ring my wife and let her know i am being taken care of. They were there for me and i get how much they had to do for one person. These amazing ppl need the support financially to show what they and the institution means to us in the UK. I am with you guys!!!

[michaelrch]

100% solidarity with striking workers.
I employ people in a small business and for me, the right to strike for better pay and conditions is a fundamental right that cannot be restricted or curtailed.
If an employer cannot pay their staff properly, they are just not running their business properly and maybe they should let someone else run it for them.
No employee owes their employer a living.

[GildaLee]

It is wrong to routinely work hospital nurses a minimum of 12 hours. Human beings cannot keep up that pace and remain healthy.

[natnat]

Please don't stop guys, fight for your rights. The people in power have fattened up on the ordinary worker's blood sweat and tears for long enough. It's ridiculous and disgusting how our essential workers are forced to live these days.

[jakobbauz]

Nothing but love for that young nurse with the glasses in the beginning. <3 Please take care of yourself too.

[sharongillesp]

Multinational corporations and government officials have become rabid disrupters of democracy and community stability!

[DeborahWalkerXOXO]

It makes me sick that some people say these people have picked a vocation so they knew the pay was rubbish. The pay may not have been amazing but you could afford to live. You could raise your family. You could travel. How is it that British people have been sold a notion that it is acceptable for the backbone of our nation to be on poverty wages because they picked public sector jobs? I'm soo glad that public sector workers are finally fighting back. This has been going on for years. Absolutely fight to save our nation from the ghouls in this government.

[kaiserslavaniaashur]

“We leave the EU to enforce and better our economy”

UK after leaving the EU:

[kathyaarguello]

Congratulations dear strikers!!
Many Costa Rica's teachers me included went on a strike for 3 months. We believed we could obtain respect and communication from the government, many were discriminated and treated as treats. Educators, teachers were exposed as the worse of society. Sadly we lost the battle. Since then many policies from the government had been focusing on taking away workers's rights including banning any possible way of participating on strikes they are forbidden by law. Another action was increasing the age of pension.We can only observe hopelessly many of the workers' adquired rights are erased ! It is a shame for my country. I encourage you to continue fighting for your ideals.

[khukonmiah]

Solidarity with the hardest workers in this country! Why are these ppl not getting paid the same as footballers or politicians? Teachers, nurses, train workers, care workers should be paid same if not more than these scum money hungry lying tories! Sadly nothing will change till this government is changed!!!

[themanofthehour]

This is what happens when you have a corrupt government who doesn't and won't listen unless it's in their gain.

[brianfreeman]

Thirteen years we've had the Tories, of whom I have been a lifelong supporter. THIRTEEN YEARS, and look at the bloody mess they've made ! SUPPORT THE WORKERS.

[leigh]

A nurse should never work 12 hours. 8 should be the max. We all know how our performance nose dives as we get tired.

[alistairmonaghan]

Enough is Enough - I'm so sick of this government taking the p*ss out of us all

[ywiggan]

Nurses and ambulance drivers they so deserve a pay rise. Myself and my son are sepsis survivors. My son has had sepsis 13 times due to low immunity. I got sepsis from a chest infection that my GP refused to give me antibiotics for. 9 months in hospital full body shut down. On life support for 5 months, followed by 4 months of rehabilitation, l had to learn to walk and talk and eat again. The NHS and everybody saved my life and my sons. 2% survival rate I was given. NHS gave me and my son 2nd chance at life. From coma to fitness. Give the NHS the payrises they deserve 👏 🙌

[MISSYGful]

I support you! You stand for us all.

Solidarity.

[jnorth]

My kids and I horned the hell out of the area we live, yesterday - in solidarity with the teachers, and all the people who are striking and fighting for all our human rights!!!

[davewebster]

It's the system world wide, money is going to shareholders and big companies etc and squeezing out the worker

[sharongillesp]

People shouldn’t get one months notice to find a place for a rent increase - they should get at least one years notice. The same amount of time an owner wants to have a lease.

[Munchie]

Us carers should be doing the same but we can't leave our clients alone, we have no choice but to be there. Full support to you!