Author: UK News

All strikes planned for July 2023 – from doctors to airport workers News Briefing

All strikes planned for July 2023 – from doctors to airport workers

By

More Heathrow strikes are incoming (Picture: PA)

Though some unions have managed to settle their disputes with employers, the current run of strikes across various industries in the UK is set to continue into July.

Bus and train drivers, civil servants and driving examiners and are just some of the workers to take industrial action recently, with many other sectors also striking over the last year in disputes over pay and working conditions.

Many unions are now balloting on strike action, as the law requires trade unions to secure a new mandate for walkouts every six months – which recently led to the government successfully taking the nurse’s college to court.

So who is currently due to strike in July 2023 – and who could go on strike?

Refuse workers

Around 150 bin workers employed by Suez in South Gloucestershire are continuing an ongoing strike into the first week of July.

The workers voted to strike by 89% after rejecting an eight per cent pay offer from the company, which, according to its latest UK financial returns, brought in profits of £80.8m in 2021.

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web
browser that
supports HTML5
video

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Suez is an extremely profitable company but is offering these workers a real terms pay cut during the worst cost of living crisis in generations. 

‘Unite’s total focus on defending our members’ jobs, pay and conditions will ensure that Suez’s workforce have their union’s absolute support in fighting back against their employer’s greed.’

Current strike dates: July 1-8

Heathrow Airport workers

Despite postponing the first two days of their planned strike in June, Heathrow Airport workers are still set to walk out for a number of days in July – as part of 31 days of proposed action over the summer.

Industrial action has been announced for almost every weekend from the middle of June to the end of August, affecting Eid al-Adha and the beginning of the school holidays.

Heathrow is facing walkouts every weekend over the summer (Picture: PA)

Major disruptions to travel is expected as the strikes will involve more than 2,000 security officers.

British Airways, Virgin, Emirates, Qatar, United, American and Delta are just some of the airlines set to be affected by the walkouts at Terminal 3 and 5.

For the first time security officers based at Terminal 3, who voted for action last week, will join their colleagues from Terminal 5 and campus security, responsible for checking all personnel and vehicles going airside, on the picket line.

Current strike dates: July 14-16/July 21-24/July 28-31

Who else could strike?

Doctors could walk out in what would be the first strike by consultants since the 1970s.

After junior doctor strikes consultants could also walk out (Picture: PA)

The British Medical Association is balloting its members over staging a 48-hour walkout on July 20 and 21 in reponse to what it calls repeated pay cuts – with the results of the ballot due on June 27.

If the strike goes ahead it will affect services, but the BMA has said emergency care will be covered – with a Christmas Day level of cover being made available.

There are no current train strikes scheduled, but that could change at any time.

Unions are obliged to give 14 days notice of strike action, so there could potentially be further strikes during July. In May, RMT members voted to extend the mandate to strike for another six months.

MORE : Could there be any more teacher strikes in 2023?

Follow Metro across our social channels, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

Share your views in the comments below

Read More