Inflation in the United Kingdom is at a 40-year high. People are struggling to make ends meet. And the winter storm is set to worsen at the peak of Christmas season. With UK losing Prime Ministers to one controversy after another, can current PM Rishi Sunak overcome this mammoth challenge, or fall as another domino?
FRESH STRIKES
A fresh wave of worker strikes have been planned in the UK in the run-up to Christmas. From nurses to rail workers - strikes have been planned by many trade unions. The British government plans to deploy the military to cover the jobs of absentee workers. 1,200 troops will be deployed to cover for ambulance crews and Border Force staff at airports. However, protesting trade unions have said that soldiers are not 'sufficiently trained' for these jobs.
WHO, WHEN, WHERE?
Workers in at least 7 types of jobs plan to stage walkouts on various days before and after Christmas. Here's what's planned.
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Nurses are going on strike on 20 December in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The strike has been called by the Royal College of Nursing union. Emergency and intensive care services are likely to remain unaffected, with most of the impact being felt on services like planned operations and district nursing.
A day later, on 21 December, ambulance workers plan to go on strike in most parts of England and Wales. The strike has been called by the Unison, GMB, and Unite union groups. Only non-life-threatening calls will be affected, but reports suggest that fall victims may find it hard to get help.
Traffic personnel plan to stage a strike between 22 and 25 December in London, southeast England. The strike has been called by the National Highways traffic officers of the PCS union. Control centre and post-accident traffic staff will not report for duty. However, National Highways officials have said that roads will not be closed.
Postal services will be affected on 23 and 24 December with Royal Mail workers planning a strike just before Christmas. First and second-class letters will not be delivered, and delivery offices will remain shut. However, parcels and Special Delivery letters will be circulated, although the service may face some hurdles.
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A major walkout has been planned by the Border Force at airports between 23 and 26 December, and 28 and 31 December. Services will be affected at Heathrow, Gatwick, Birmingham, Cardiff, Glasgow, and Manchester airports, and the Newhaven port. Due to the 8-day strike, passport checking services will be affected. Some airlines are not selling tickets to Heathrow on the strike days.
Another transport nightmare will be caused by the rail workers' strike from 24 to 27 December. It is being staged by the RMT workers' union. It had conducted a strike earlier as well. Authorities have advised only essential travel on these days.
Bus drivers will also stage a strike on 24 December in south and west London. Bus drivers of the Unite trade union employed by Abellio will be staging a walkout.
But why are so many worker groups intent on bringing the country to a halt, especially in the festive season?
WHY THE STRIKES?
They are staging strikes due to high inflation in the UK. The Covid pandemic and the Ukraine war have caused a major cost-of-living crisis. Workers want a salary hike in line with the inflation level. At 10.7%, inflation in the UK softened in November, but was still highest in the last 40 years.
The UK government has said that massive pay hikes will fuel further inflation. The country saw a loss of 4.17 lakh working days due to strikes in October.
SUNAK'S SALVO
Despite growing pressure on the government, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has stuck to his guns. Here's what he wrote in an article on the strikes.
Sunak accused trade unions of causing misery for millions. He said that the transport strikes are cruelly timed for Christmas. The PM said that workers have been offered fair deals which are affordable for the taxpayers. Sunak accused RMT Union chief Mick Lynch of waging a "class war", and added that Union members are tired of being foot soldiers in this war. Taking on his political opponents, Sunak said that the Labour party is backing the "Grinches" who want to steal Christmas.
WHAT NEXT?
The biggest victims of the strikes will be common people. And the government appears to be hoping that the troubles faced by the people will make the trade union protests unpopular.
However, this will not solve the livelihood problem being faced by many in the UK. In becoming the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak scripted many firsts. But his response and resolution of this major crisis may come to define his entire tenure.
