UK unions seek final nail in Prime Minister Truss’ coffin


LONDON: As the sun beat down on the English seaside resort of Brightonbringing together union leaders warned of mass winter strikes over Britain’s cost of living crisis.
The Trades Union Congress (TUC) conference kicked off with demands that assailed the Prime Minister Liz Truss resign.
It coincided with news that coffin makers are the latest UK workers to strike as their pay fails to keep up with high inflation for decades.
In Brighton, the Englandfrom the south coast, the co-leader of the National Education Union was adamant.
“It is inevitable that Liz Truss will go,” Kevin Courtney told AFP, as the Prime Minister struggled to stabilize his position after an economic crash forced her into a humiliating U-turn on the streets. tax cuts.
“The total loss of credibility she has had means there is no way the Conservative Party will have her as their leader in the next general election,” he predicted.
“They should call an election now.”
In a packed conference room in Brighton, outgoing TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady also demanded the prime minister’s resignation.
“I have a message for Liz Truss: workers are proud of the work we do. We work hard. We work the longest hours in Europe,” she told delegates, who responded with loud applause.
“Yet thanks to your party’s 12 years in government, millions are struggling to make ends meet.”
Keir Starleader of the main opposition Labor Party, is due to address the TUC on Thursday, at the end of the conference.
While unions have traditionally allied with Labour, Starmer is set to face a chilling reception after refusing to back the latest strike action and banning MPs from his senior team from joining picket lines.
It comes as tens of thousands of state-employed teachers and health workers are being voted on possible walkouts.
If they go on strike, they will join tens of thousands of railway and postal workers carrying out some of Britain’s biggest work stoppages in decades.
“If I were the government, I would be very worried about this,” Courtney said.
He dismissed suggestions that teacher strikes would hurt children who already have to catch up on learning due to previous Covid lockdowns.
“We really don’t want to strike, but we will hurt children by not striking.
“With so many wage deductions, we have real problems recruiting young people to enter teaching and we are losing a lot of people through teaching,” insisted the trade unionist.
The TUC conference was due to take place last month but was delayed following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. It also triggered the postponement of strikes as a mark of respect.
Across the Channel, France faced disruption on Tuesday after unions there called for a national transport strike.
At the entrance to the Brighton Conference Center facing France, conference attendees made their feelings known, urging the TUC umbrella group to also call for a general strike.
Large banners adorned with the message from the TUC conference declared: “We Demand Better”.
It comes as the government continues legal moves to introduce minimum service levels during strikes by transport workers.
Truss promised in a BBC interview on Monday to keep the trains rolling in the face of strikes by what she called “militant” unions.
Companies are not giving in to union demands either.
British postal operator Royal Mail last week unveiled plans to cut up to 10,000 jobs, blaming the move in part on ongoing staff strikes that contributed to a first-half loss.
Agreements are reached in some cases following lengthy negotiations – the latest with thousands of bus workers, who are said to have secured a pay deal in line with inflation.
Senior criminal lawyers from England and Wales recently called off another strike after voting in favor of a government wage offer.
Britain has also seen strikes by port, waste and telecommunications workers this year.



malek

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

GreenLeaf Tw2sl