A number of trade unions including education and rail have gone on strike demanding for better pay and working conditions.
A march took place in Sheffield today which was organised by the National Education Union (NEU), however members of other unions such as National Union of Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT) and the University and College Union (UCU) have taken to the picket lane to demand better pay for workers.
Martin Mayor, Secretary of the Sheffield Trade Union Council, said: “The whole issue is about pay because the government is refusing to give a cost of living pay increase to the public sector workers.
“We have got a real problem with this government because they seem ideologically bent on a reduced public sector pay.
“Public sector workers’ living standards have gone down by 20-25% and now we have a cost of living crisis where CPI inflation is over 10% and yet the civil servants have been offered a 2% pay rise and other private sector workers have been offered 5%, it is unacceptable.”
The Union has also demanded for better working and living conditions for public sector workers.
Karl, from the NEU, said: “It’s not just about better pay, but it’s also about demanding for better working conditions and for better care for teachers.
“The 1% are getting richer and the rest of us are getting poorer, it’s an absolute disgrace”
“We are not just doing this for us, we are doing this for the children and grandchildren of this country, they deserve the best teaching possible.”
The marches today were not just campaigning for better pay in the education sector, the RMT also took to the picket line as they demanded for better pay for railway workers.
Gaz Jackson, Regional Organiser for the RMT for Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, said: “What we are fighting for our terms and conditions, keeping us safe at work and an affordable railway for the public.
“The support that we have received from the public has been absolutely fantastic and is growing day on day.”
David Hayes, a lecturer at the University of Sheffield and the policies and governance officer for the local branch of the UCU, said: “We are striking here today partly for pay but also for working conditions, workload, equality and casualisation as well as our pensions.
“We have seen significant erosion in these areas over the past 10-15 years and we have been fighting for pretty much the same fight for the past 5 years and trying to achieve some meaningful adjustments.”
The Trade Unions announced at the march that they are planning to have their “biggest Mayday march ever” and want to see as many people there as possible.