This fall, unions that represent close to 3 million people have threatened to organize synchronized strikes to raise as much commotion as possible.
The Observer claims that many resolutions put up by the largest trade unions in Britain, including Unite and Unison, demand that they coordinate their efforts in order to have the maximum effect and ‘win’ the fight for inflation-related wage increases.
A resolution by Unite would charge the Trade Union Congress (TUC) with ensuring that industrial action is coordinated or purposefully staggered to have the most effect possible, even if the proposals legally fall short of a “general strike.”
The arrangements are made in advance of the TUC convention, which will take place in Brighton from September 11 to September 14. The TUC congress is the unions’ decision-making forum.
It is known that the Communication Workers Union (CWU) and the rail union RMT support Unite’s request that the organization “promote industrial cooperation” in order to “more effectively harness their union strength to win.”
The cost of living dilemma is being referred to by Unison as a “low pay crisis,” and the union is urging the TUC to advocate for pay increases “at least in step with inflation” as well as a £15 per hour minimum wage.
At 10.1% right now, inflation is predicted to reach 18.6% next year.
With 1.4 million members each in Unite, 1.3 million in Unison, roughly 200,000 in the CWU, and 80,000 in RMT, the unions together have close to 3 million members.
In the following months, strike turmoil might have an impact on local government, education, healthcare, transportation, and the civil service.
Bus drivers are picketing at Stamford Brook Bus Garage as a two-day strike over wages starts on August 28 after being called by the UNITE trade union.
With 1.4 million members each in Unite, 1.3 million in Unison, roughly 200,000 in the CWU, and 80,000 in RMT, the unions together have close to 3 million members. General Secretaries of the CWU Dave Ward, Unison Christina McAnea, RMT Mick Lynch, and Unite Sharon Graham are seen in the photo clockwise from top left.
On August 28, bus drivers at Shepherd’s Bush Bus Garage are protesting about wages as a two-day strike is planned by the UNITE trade union.
Unite’s 1,900 dockworkers are on an eight-day strike in Felixstowe, according to Sharon Graham, general secretary of Unite, who told the Observer: “You want to make sure we offer as much support as possible.” The TUC’s job is to watch that happen, so do that.
She emphasized that when she discussed cooperation between unions that are on strike over distinct wage issues, she was not referring to illegal secondary action, such as one union backing another that is.
In reaction to the government’s intentions to eliminate 91,000 public service positions, the First Division Association, which represents senior civil officials, is urging the next prime minister to abandon its “destructive” strategy for “arbitrary employment cutbacks.”
Who else is anticipated to spread the summer strike epidemic?
In the next months, strikes can affect all sectors of the economy. These are the impacted and potentially affected locations, as well as the unions driving the ballots.
TRANSPORT
Following several prior days of action earlier in the year, the RMT began striking this month. As a result, a fifth of the country’s rail network was shut down, and service levels were drastically cut.
Workers from the Train Drivers’ Union Aslef and the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA), who protested at Greater Anglia and the Croydon Tramlink, joined them.
More commuter hardship will result from the vote by train drivers at Chiltern, Northern, TransPennine Express, and London Tramlink to strike.
British Airways threatened to strike but decided against it last month after receiving a better salary offer.
EDUCATION
If the Government does not support requests for a 12% wage increase, the teachers’ union NAS/UWT will put the issue to a vote among its members. In November, a wage award for 2022–2023 is due.
In the event that the government does not grant a salary increase that is in line with inflation, the National Education Union has threatened to put its 460,000 members to a vote.
HEALTHCARE
NHS employees’ union, Unison, has warned that unless their yearly salary offer is close to the rate of inflation, there may be strikes. The British Medical Association, which speaks for physicians, has also said that unless young doctors get a 22% “restorative” salary increase, a vote will be prepared.
Additionally, the Royal College of Nursing has called for a wage increase of 5% above inflation.
SERVICES CIVIL
A vote on wages, pensions, and layoffs will be held in September by the Public and Commercial Services Union, which represents public service employees.
SUBURBAN GOVERNMENT
Local government employees in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland should get wage increases of at least £2,000 apiece, according to the Unison, GMB, and Unite unions. Garbage collectors, librarians, teaching assistants, and caregivers are among the workforce.
Unite said that it would back “any action” taken by employees to increase their salaries.
COMMUNICATIONS
Following a Communication Workers Union poll, the Royal Mail workforce walked out yesterday and will do so again on August 31, September 8, and September 9.
The union has also sent ballots to BT employees, including engineers, contact center agents, and retail personnel, over compensation. The corporation could see its first strike since becoming privatized in the middle of the 1980s as a consequence.
Additionally, the GMB union will poll over 50,000 school support staff members about a £1,925 wage increase. More than 100,000 local government employees will also vote in a wage contract referendum.
The Royal College of Nursing will poll its members on the topic of going on strike.
This statement follows Boris Johnson’s declaration that whomever takes over No. 10 will unveil “another large package of financial help” due to the exorbitant prices that Britain would incur this winter.
As he stressed that “we must and we will support people through the crisis,” the departing PM gave a clue as to the scope of the choices for easing the load that Liz Truss or Rishi Sunak would have to examine.
Cutting VAT is “the nuclear option,” according to a person familiar with the negotiations regarding the next steps, according to The Sunday Telegraph.
To compel a transfer of wealth and “redress the equilibrium in society,” union president Mick Lynch has now called for a year of coordinated strikes throughout the economy.
On Friday, the RMT union’s president delivered a speech while standing with striking Royal Mail employees on the picket line.
At a protest for workers, Mr. Lynch said that “the billionaires, the millionaires, the shareholders, and the large businesses” were forcing the working class to bear the burden of solving Britain’s social problems.
If it were to continue into the next year, he said, “We need a summer of solidarity and a spring of solidarity.”
“We have to call on the entire movement,” said the CWU, Unite, GMB, RMT, and others, “to come into this action, to get members motivated and call them to the flag and vote yes for a wave of industrial action across the UK and internationally if that is what it takes, because we need to redress the balance in society.”
“And not have our lives dictated to us by folks from Eton and Harrow who advise us to give up our jobs and our homes.” It is not something we will accept.
After rejecting a 5.5% salary increase offer on Friday, more than 100,000 Royal Mail employees walked out. They will do so once again on August 31, September 8, and September 9 after 97.6% of CWU members voted in favor of industrial action.
Boris Johnson predicted that the UK would emerge from the next months “stronger and more wealthy” despite the fact that the coming few months will be challenging — “maybe very painful” — as ‘eye-watering’ energy costs take their toll.
He said that “colossal amounts of taxpayers’ money” had already been allocated for helping individuals pay their bills.
However, he warned, “The Government will announce another enormous package of financial help next month – whomever comes over after me.”
People earning roughly £45,000 a year, according to Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi, may find it difficult to keep up with rising living expenses when the energy price ceiling is once again raised.
The government must act quickly to “meet the size of the catastrophe we have before us,” the regulator Ofgem urged the government on Friday as Britain learned that the typical household’s monthly bill would go from £1,971 to £3,549.
The most vulnerable individuals will get special help, as Rishi Sunak has previously promised.
In a piece he wrote for The Times on Saturday, he underlined this point and said that the welfare system, subsidies for winter heating, and cold weather payments should all be utilized to assist elderly and low-income people.
It is “appropriate” to issue a warning before entering Downing Street, he argued, since it is “responsible” to do so before having a “full command of the budgetary position.”
On August 26, members of the Communication Employees Union (CWU) and their supporters gathered outside the Mount Pleasant Mail Center to demand a salary raise on the first day of the Royal Mail workers’ strike.
The largest union in Britain, Unison, is pushing for the TUC to push for pay increases “at least in pace with inflation” as well as a £15 per hour minimum wage. Unison is referring to the cost of living situation as a “low pay crisis.” The headline CPI rate in July was 10.1%, far higher than experts’ expectations of 9.8%. It increased from 9.4% the previous month.
Union leader Mick Lynch has called for a year of coordinated strikes throughout the economy to compel a transfer of wealth and “redress the balance in society” (seen during a demonstration on the first day of the Royal Mail employees’ strike).
The former chancellor did admit that it would be a “multibillion-pound effort” to provide “real help.”
Simon Hart, a Sunak admirer and former Cabinet minister, said on Sunday that people are “frustrated” by the present state of affairs.
When asked what what he intended to do to address the issue, Mr. Sunak told Sky News: “It’s quite annoying because I believe everyone wants to be able to say “This is precisely what’s going to be stated should our particular candidate win.”
Bank holiday weekend is impacted by bus strikes.
On August 28 and 29, there will be strikes affecting London United buses.
Although Transport for London claims that the majority of the bus network will be in service, it cautions that “disruption on select routes” may occur, primarily across west and south west London as well as some areas of Surrey.
The following routes will be impacted: 9, 18, 33, 49, 65, 70, 71, 72, 85, 94, 105, 110, 116, 117, 148, 203, 211, 216, 223, 224, 235, 258, 265, 266, 272, 281, 283, 290, 293, 371, 404, 406, 411, 418, 419, 423, 440, 465, 467, 470, 481, C1, E1,
On August 30, services will resume as usual at 6:00.
In the locations these buses serve, other bus routes and forms of transportation will probably be busier than normal.
“I believe it’s a little bit unrealistic to be able to accomplish that today, to guess about the size of the problem and then come up with a solution.”
Will there be a certain number? Are we going to promise to pay you a certain amount on September 7? No, I believe doing it would be reckless.
What we can say is that a package is on its way, as the Prime Minister has said.
If Ms. Truss wins the competition, she has pledged to take “decisive action” and provide “rapid help.”
She hasn’t been specific about what shape this help may take, save from reducing energy bill green taxes and rolling back the contentious National Insurance increase, however.
She has stated it is not “appropriate” to make public her whole strategy before the competition is completed or she has had a chance to review all of the Whitehall-produced information.
In order for the next prime minister to “hit the ground running” when they enter office in September, Mr. Zahawi has announced he is working “flat out” to develop ideas for a strategy.
He said that he is looking at measures to make sure that “we support people who actually need the help” in an interview with The Daily Telegraph.
There are those who aren’t receiving benefits, he continued, and that worries him.
It’s particularly difficult if you’re a senior nurse or senior teacher making £45,000 a year since your energy costs have increased by 80% and are likely to go much more in the next year.
“If you’re a retiree, it’s pretty difficult.” Therefore, targeting with Universal Credit is quite successful, but I’m looking at what more we can do to make sure we’re helping the people who truly need it. We are considering all of our possibilities.
The Treasury spokesperson said, “As the Prime Minister has made clear, no significant budgetary decisions will be undertaken prior to the appointment of the next prime minister.