UK healthcare workers end strikes

LONDON (AP) — Unions representing hundreds of thousands of nurses, paramedics and other healthcare workers reached an agreement Thursday to end months of strikes for pay increases. The agreement does not cover doctors.

The agreement includes a one-time payment for this year and a 5% increase for next year.

Meanwhile, early-career doctors spent the third day on the picket lines. The day before, Treasury chief Jeremy Hunt announced a budget that did not include increases for sectors of workers who went on strike amid a cost of living crisis and inflation two digits.

A wave of strikes by railway workers, airport baggage handlers, border staff, driving instructors and postal workers generated widespread chaos.

Inflation fell to 10.1% in January from 11.1% in October, the highest in 40 years. Food and energy prices have soared and many households are struggling to pay their bills.

Unions say public sector wages have not kept up with rising prices. But the Conservative government argues that wage increases of 10% or more for the sector would further increase inflation.

Firefighters, who have called off a strike, and London bus drivers have reached agreements to continue working. But many other professions remain plagued by wage disputes. Tens of thousands of teachers, public sector employees and subway workers went on strike Wednesday.

Health worker walkouts have pressured the government to drop its opposition to pay rises in the overburdened public health system. Some politicians criticized health workers for putting lives at risk, although paramedics said they responded to emergency calls.