In Britain, where record inflation continues, strikes in a wide range of industries demand wage increases, and on the 15th, labor unions such as nurses went on a nationwide strike for the first time since it was founded about 100 years ago. rice field.
The UK continues to face high energy prices and record inflation of more than 10% compared to the same month last year, prompting strikes across a wide range of sectors, including the public sector, to demand higher wages.
More than 460,000 nurses, midwives and other labor unions went on strike on the 15th. I held up my card and appealed for wage increases and better treatment.
It is the first time that labor unions such as nurses will go on a nationwide strike since it was founded about 100 years ago, and the union says that up to 100,000 people will participate.
Pat Cullen, secretary general of the Royal Nursing Association, said, "We need to pay fair wages to cope with the shortage of 50,000 nurses in this country."
In addition, a strike by railroad workers has begun, and there are concerns about the impact on people's movement toward the end of the year, and the labor union that operates the postal service will carry out a strike over Christmas during the busy season.
Regarding the public sector strike, the British government said, ``We will continue to cooperate with the union, but it is not possible to raise wages in line with the inflation rate,'' and labor-management negotiations are expected to be difficult.
Nurses “The number of young people who want to become nurses is decreasing”
Linda Chan, who works as a nurse at a hospital in the East of England, gave an interview with NHK ahead of the strike on the 15th.
She pointed out that due to her salary level, the number of people who want to become nurses has decreased significantly, and there is currently a shortage of about 50,000 nurses nationwide.
Regarding the background, ``Nurses were required to work long hours during the global pandemic of the new coronavirus, and some became infected while caring for infected people.In addition, The number of young people who want to work as nurses is decreasing because they cannot live on the current wages."
Regarding the purpose of participating in the strike, Mr. Chan said that it was not just to ask for a raise in wages, but he said, "By improving the treatment, nurses who are thinking of becoming nurses in the future. I want people to know that it is a highly valued profession and that it is a job that pays enough to make a living.”