(Liam McBurney/PA via AP)Public sector workers walk from the picket line at the Royal Victoria Hospital to a rally at Belfast City Hall, in Belfast, Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024, as an estimated 150,000 workers take part in walkouts over pay across Northern Ireland. (Liam McBurney/PA via AP)Public sector workers walk from the picket line at the Royal Victoria Hospital to a rally at Belfast City Hall, in Belfast, Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024, as an estimated 150,000 workers take part in walkouts over pay across Northern Ireland. (Liam McBurney/PA via AP)BELFAST, Northern Ireland -- Tens of thousands of public sector workers walked off the job across Northern Ireland on Thursday to protest political deadlock that has left them without pay increases, and the region without a functioning government. The 24-hour strike by about 150,000 teachers, nurses, bus drivers and others is the biggest walkout in years in Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom with its own regional government. “This package has been on the table since before Christmas and will remain there, available on day one for an incoming Northern Ireland Executive,” he said.

Source: ABC News January 18, 2024 16:23 UTC