Half A Million Workers Protest In UK’s Biggest Strike

Up to half a million British workers, including teachers, university staff, civil servants, border officials and train and bus drivers, protested in the largest industrial action in the United Kingdom has seen in more than a decade.

This comes as unions step up pressure on the government to demand better pay amid the cost-of-living crisis.

The walkouts across the country shut schools, halted most rail services, and forced the military to be put on standby to help with border checks on a day dubbed "Walk Out Wednesday" by unions.

The Trades Union Congress said on Wednesday that the average public sector worker is 203 pounds ($250) a month worse off compared with 2010, once inflation has been taken into account.

Inflation in the U.K. stands at 10.5%, the highest in 40 years, driven by skyrocketing food and energy costs.

While some expect price rises to slow down this year, Britain's economic outlook remains grim.

PM Rishi Sunak's office acknowledged that Wednesday's protests will cause significant disruption to people, and also maintained that negotiations are the right approach.

Next week, nurses, ambulance staff, paramedics, emergency call handlers and other healthcare workers are also set to stage more protests, while firefighters this week also backed a nationwide strike.