UK facing massive strikes in the run-up to Christmas

The UK is facing strikes by rail and postal workers, nurses, bus drivers and border guards before Christmas. The trade unions are demanding significant wage increases. The British government has so far refused to negotiate and plans to deploy thousands of soldiers to cover for striking workers if necessary. The media talk of an imminent "winter of discontent".

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The Observer (GB) /

Citizens feel the impact of poor conditions

The strikers' demands are justified and the government should negotiate, argues The Observer:

“Low-paid public sector workers deserve not to be left materially worse off after a decade of real-term pay cuts. Trying to shift the blame to 'union bosses' and fob off the public with vague promises to clamp down further on the power of nurses and teachers to strike will not cut it when voters can see with their own eyes the impact poor staffing levels are having in areas such as health and education. It is the government, not hard-pressed workers, who will be held accountable.”

The Sunday Times (GB) /

Another non-normal Christmas

The Sunday Times has no sympathy with the strikers:

“People and businesses are heartily sick of these strikes. This was supposed to be the first normal Christmas for three years, but the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers, the RMT, which claims to be one of Britain's fastest-growing trade unions, seems determined to ensure it is not. It is not just those hoping to travel to be with family and friends for Christmas. Restaurants and party venues are reporting as many cancellations as during the worst of the pandemic. Hospitality firms, already in trouble, are staring down the barrel of a gun.”