Classes are expected to be closed or canceled at universities, elementary and secondary schools. However, many institutions are expected to be open to some students, especially those who are going to take secondary school exams.
The National Education Union (NEU), the main teachers’ union, has seven days of strike action, affecting around 23,000 schools across the country in England and Wales, and the remaining days of strikes will be concentrated in some areas.
The NEU rejected a 5% rise offered by the British executive, demanding a rate above the rate of inflation, which fell to 10.5% in December but remains at its highest level in 40 years.
About 100,000 civil servants from the ministries of health, environment and economy are also expected to participate in the day of protest.
The shutdown is expected to be felt in the transport sector, such as trains and buses, as well as various sectors of the civil service, which began last year’s labor strike and will continue on Thursday and Friday.
The British government has already warned travelers of long waits at passport controls at airports and ports, although it has mobilized the military, other civil servants and volunteers to minimize potential delays.
Next week, more strikes are planned for nurses and ambulance workers, while firefighters are set to decide on dates for the profession’s first strikes in 20 years.
On Tuesday, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, a conservative, reiterated that an increase in civil service salaries would increase taxes, something he wants to avoid given the rising cost of living crisis.
Jane Austen is a writer and contributor covering culture, literature, lifestyle, and society. Her work focuses on thoughtful storytelling, social trends, and the issues shaping everyday life, delivering engaging and accessible content for readers across the United Kingdom.
