Public sector workers strike for better pay and working conditions

Teachers, doctors, journalists and other public sector workers took to College Green on Wednesday to demand better pay and working conditions, minutes before chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced his 2023 budget plan.

Members of the National Education Union, the British Medical Association, the Public and Commercial Services Union, the National Union of Journalists and the University College Union all gathered outside City Hall in another day of strike action.

Sam Taylor-Smith, doctor and BMA South West representative, reiterated that NHS workers were striking as a last resort.

“Our pay has fallen around 26 per cent since 2008. We have implored the government to meet us and address this decline and unfortunately time and time again we have been met with radio silence.

“So ultimately, we feel like we have been forced to take this action to try and preserve our workforce, that we know are leaving in droves to work in different careers or work abroad.

“We really want to see the NHS’s workforce protected because ultimately that is the most important part of the NHS, is its staff, and we can’t function without them.”

Alice Willatt, UCU representative for research staff at the University of Bristol spoke of a mental health crisis among research staff.

“The majority of research staff are on casualised contracts. Their contracts are so precarious that it makes it really difficult to get a rental agreement or a mortgage.

Alice Willatt joined her university colleagues to strike for better working conditions – photo: Mia Vines Booth

“Someone told me this is the first year since 2010 that they haven’t been facing a redundancy procedure from their job.

“There’s a mental health crisis amongst research staff on casualised staff and we’re just really struggling at the moment.”

Mayor of Bristol, Marvin Rees, also joined striking workers outside City Hall in an expression of solidarity.

James Garrett, chair of the Bristol branch of the NUJ, also spoke at the demonstration, as his colleagues went on strike outside the BBC Bristol offices a stone’s throw away.

Journalists at BBC Bristol are taking part in 24-hour strikes over threats to jobs and cuts to local radio stations.

“The dispute we have with the BBC is important. I had hoped that coming so soon after the Gary Lineker dispute, the BBC might have backed down today to avoid scoring two own goals in one week,” he said.

“It’s not so long since BBC managers in its last annual report said that radio stations deliver real value by keeping people safe and informed through challenging times like the pandemic.

“Those same BBC managers unfortunately plan to scrap dedicated local programmes, the impact.

“My colleagues are sad and angry so soon after having their efforts praised by their bosses for providing a lifeline to isolated people and communities during the pandemic.”

Wednesday saw hundreds of thousands of workers striking across the UK on what also marks budget day.

Further strikes are also set to take place on Thursday and Friday.

Main photo: Mia Vines Booth

Read more:

• BBC radio presenters boycott their live shows to ‘save local radio’
• Junior doctors go on strike to demand fair pay
• Uber drivers take to streets in mass vehicle strike

Listen to the latest Bristol24/7 Behind the Headlines podcast: