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Strikes paralyze transport in London

Strikes to protest high inflation in the United Kingdom continue this Friday (19) and paralyze almost all public transport in the capital London. "There is virtually no service on the London Underground, but two lines are running at reduced capacity, with a train approximately every 15 minutes," said a spokeswoman for public transport operator TfL. 

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Bus traffic was also disrupted in London.

The United Kingdom has been experiencing a wave of strikes in transport, mail and ports since Thursday, the largest social movement of its kind in several decades.

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Workers demand salary increases corresponding to inflation, which reduces purchasing power and in July reached 10,1% at an annual rate. The index could exceed 13% in October, according to Bank of England forecasts. 

Outside Blackhorse Road station, north London, several people expressed their frustration.

“I'm going to be late for work, I need to get to central London,” lamented a woman as she tried to get on a bus.

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“I understand the message that (the strikers) want to convey to the bosses, but (…) London is a big city and a lot of people need to get to work,” said Catherine Ondo, a 25-year-old saleswoman.

A railway strike is scheduled for Saturday. 

Unions say negotiations with the sector's private operators are at a standstill after workers rejected an offer of an 8% pay rise over two years from Network Rail, the state-owned railway company.

Unions accuse the company of conditioning the proposal on large-scale layoffs.

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Transport Minister Grant Shapps accuses unions of blocking the situation and rejecting reforms to modernize the sector.

https://curtonews.com/economia/inflacao-no-reino-unido-atinge-101-em-julho-recorde-em-40-anos/

(with AFP)

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