Strikes have spread across the economy throughout summer of this year and show no signs of abating. These are the areas which have been affected so far – and the unions behind the ballots.
TRANSPORT
Strikes by the RMT last month followed several other days of action earlier in the year, as half the country’s rail network was closed and service was reduced to a fifth of normal levels.
They were joined by workers from the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA) and the train drivers’ union Aslef, which took action at Greater Anglia and the Croydon Tramlink.
Train drivers at Chiltern, Northern, TransPennine Express and London Tramlink have all also voted to go on strike – spelling more misery for commuters across England.
A strike by British Airways was threatened, but was called off in July after an improved pay offer was made.
EDUCATION
Teachers’ union NAS/UWT will ballot members over action unless the Government backs demands for a 12 per cent pay rise. A pay award for 2022/23 is due in November.
The National Education Union has said it will ballot its 460,000 members if a pay rise in line with inflation is not offered by the Government.
HEALTHCARE
Unison, which represents NHS staff, has said strikes are possible unless the annual pay offer for them is not close to the rate of inflation. The British Medical Association, which represents doctors, has also said it will prepare for a ballot unless junior doctors are given a 22 per cent ‘restorative’ pay rise.
The Royal College of Nursing has also demanded a pay rise of 5 per cent above inflation.
CIVIL SERVICE
The Public and Commercial Services Union, which represents civil service workers, will hold a ballot from September 26 to November over pay, pensions and redundancies.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
The Unison, GMB and Unite unions have said local government staff in England, Wales and Northern Ireland should receive a pay increase of at least £2,000 each. Workers include rubbish collectors, library staff, teaching assistants and care workers.
Unite said it will support ‘any action’ by workers to achieve a pay rise.
COMMUNICATIONS
Royal Mail staff walked out over several days in August and will again on September 8 and September 9 after being balloted by the Communication Workers Union.
The union has also sent ballot papers to BT workers including engineers, contact centre staff and retail employees over pay. It could result in the first strike at the company since it was privatised in the mid-1980s.