LONDON–Some three quarters of a million public sector employees began striking across Britain on Thursday, shutting down thousands of schools and triggering severe delays and disruption at airports in what organizers said was the biggest strike in a generation.
Union organizers said that more than 750,000 public employees — including teachers, lecturers, court staff, passport officers, and other civil servants — walked out during the one-day strike over proposed changes to their pension system.
A massive rally was planned for 1 p.m. local time in central London (8 a.m. in Washington).
A showdown between the public sector and the government seemed almost inevitable after the British government announced ambitious plans to slash $128 billion in public spending over the next four years.
Budgets have been reduced, salaries frozen and jobs eliminated, but it’s the issue of pensions that has sparked massive conflict between the public sector and the Conservative-led government.
Four major unions, along with other groups, are striking on Thursday, and many more are warning this is just the start of a larger wave of industrial action.
London’s Heathrow airport, Europe’s busiest, cautioned passengers traveling on Thursday that they will “likely” experience delays as they snake through immigration control. The British government insisted that it has contingency plans in place, and that security at its borders and ports remain a priority.
The government’s argument for pension reform mirrors its argument for its entire austerity program: Public spending is at an unsustainable level.
Public sector employees say it is grossly unfair that, under the current plans, they will have to work longer and contribute more, often for smaller pension payouts.
“We don’t get many rewards,” said Sarah Newman, 29, a teacher who was on the subway en route to the rally. She said she simply wanted the pension plan that was offered to her when she first signed on to become a teacher. Instead, Newman said, “they are trying to make us work longer, and pay more, and get less.”
Researcher Eliza Mackintosh contributed to this report.
Read more at The Washington Post.