British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has vowed to get ‘tough’ as members of various unions in the UK have gone on strike or announced plans for strikes in a range of sectors threatening the holidays.
Sunak told Parliament he would “act to protect the lives and livelihoods of the British public” if “union leaders continue to be unreasonable”.
“My priority is to make sure I keep people safe and minimize disruption to their lives, and I’ll do what’s necessary to do that,” Sunak said.
Postal workers, railway operators, ambulance drivers, teachers and Scottish nurses are among several groups striking out in the biggest strike wave in Britain since 1989. The number includes over 20,000 ambulance workers who will retire on December 21, joining to the more than 115,000 Royal Mail postal workers who walked out on Friday, intending to continue striking on December 14, 15, 23 and 24, according to the BBC.
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Unions and employers have reached a deadlock in negotiations over higher pay and fewer layoffs – or job cuts – as they face a higher cost of living. Inflation has pushed energy levels to their highest prices in decades as many people struggle to keep warm during the winter.
Firefighters union members attend a demonstration regarding possible future strike action linked to a pay dispute, in London December 6, 2022.
(Reuters/Peter Nicholls)
Commercial and Public Utilities union general secretary Mark Serwotka told Reuters the groups chose Christmas for their strikes as a “last resort” to “make sure the action we call gets noticed”.
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Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick said using Christmas as a pulpit was “inexcusable” for putting thousands of families and businesses at risk, and that the Government would work with “all UK ports and airports and have robust plans to minimize any delays”.
Royal Mail workers hold placards and banners as they gather in Parliament Square, to protest against pay and jobs, in London, Friday December 9, 2022. The communications workers union has planned a six-day strike over pay.
(AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
The number of striking groups will continue to grow in the coming weeks, with workers from highways and border forces starting strikes before Christmas and remaining on strike over the holidays.
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Border Force workers oversee passport controls at major airports and customs, meaning travelers could spend hours or see little movement through major checkpoints if traveling during the Christmas season.
UK Labor Party leader Keir Starmer speaks at the House of Commons in London on December 7, 2022.
(UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor/Distribution via Reuters)
The Royal Mail has advised residents to send Christmas letters and parcels earlier than usual to avoid delays due to the strike.
Sunak and Labor Party leader Sir Keir Starmer fell out over union disputes, with Sunak accusing Starmer of failing to ‘stand up for workers’, while Starmer said Sunak was ‘exceptional’ and needed to ‘fix these problems’ .
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Congress of Unions general secretary Fraces O’Grady urged the two leaders to stop making “political coups” and start negotiating over pay. Starmer said Labor would oppose “unworkable” minimum standards legislation, but Sunak insists his government has maintained a reasonable position and accepted independent reviews on adequate pay.
