Strikes over pay and working conditions have been rippling through the UK for weeks (Picture: Metro.co.uk)
The UK’s wave of labour unrest is set to continue with railway and civil servants striking today.
While today is quieter compared to earlier this week, people should expect travel disruption as members of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT), the main railway union, kick off a 48-hour walkout.
Some 40,000 people employed by Network Rail and 14 train operators are striking over pay increases to stay afloat amid the deepening cost-of-living crisis.
Disrupted services include: Chiltern Railways, Cross Country Trains, Greater Anglia, LNER, East Midlands Railway, c2c, Great Western Railway, Northern Trains, South Eastern, South Western Railway, Transpennine Express, Avanti West Coast, West Midlands Trains and GTR (including Gatwick Express).
Each train line has its own advice about what riders should do. For the most part, they say to travel if ‘absolutely’ necessary and to check timetables in advance.
Services will be greatly reduced with some cancelled, and running trains are expected to be busy.
The Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen (Aslef) walked out yesterday (Picture: PA)
This is something travellers have come to expect in recent months as negotiations between unions and rail companies have remained unsuccessful.
And this may continue for months to come, RMT head Mick Lynch warned yesterday as he apologised for the job action ‘dragging on’.
‘We’ve got a mandate that runs through to May this year, and if we have to go further, that’s what we’ll need to do,’ he said.
Lynch as well as other rail union bosses have accused the government of blocking rail operators from offering a proposal on job pay, security and working conditions.
They say countless workers are unable to make ends meet as inflation continues to gnaw at their bank accounts – and a decade of stagnating wage growth hasn’t helped.
Rail employees aren’t alone in striking today.
Workers from National Highways, a government-owned company that oversees the country’s motorways, are beginning their two-day action in the East Midlands and eastern England.
Practical driving tests may also be cancelled as workers from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) walk out in England, Scotland and Wales.
Timeline of strikes over the next few weeks
– January 6
RMT rail workers will stage another 48-hour strike.
National Highways workers to stage a two-day action in the East Midlands and eastern England.
The DVSA strike continues in London, the South East, South Wales and the South West.
RPA staff to continue their walkout.
– January 7
The RMT rail workers’ walkout continues.
National Highways workers will continue their strike in the East Midlands and eastern England.
The DVSA strike continues in London, the South East, South Wales and the South West.
– January 8
The DVSA strike continues in London, the South East, South Wales and the South West.
– January 9
The DVSA strike continues in London, the South East, South Wales and the South West.
RPA staff to continue their walkout.
– January 10
The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) union will stage a national strike in primary schools, special schools and early years sites.
The DVSA strike continues in London, the South East, South Wales and the South West.
RPA staff to continue their walkout.
London bus workers at Abellio to go on strike.
– January 11
Unison members working for five ambulance services in England will stage a fresh walkout.
The GMB union, also representing ambulance staff, has now scheduled further strike action for this date.
EIS, joined by the Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association, will stage another national strike in secondary schools and secondary special schools.
RPA staff will continue their walkout.
– January 12
Workers on London’s Elizabeth line will go on strike.
London bus workers at Abellio will also stage industrial action.
RPA staff will continue their walkout.
– January 13
RPA staff to continue their walkout.
– January 16
EIS to stage a national strike for 16 consecutive days until February 2, which will see members in two local authorities strike each day.
London bus workers at Abellio will go on strike.
– January 18
Royal College of Nursing (RCN) members in England will strike.
– January 19
London bus workers at Abellio will go on strike.
RCN members in England will continue their strike.
– January 23
Unison members working for five ambulance services in England will stage another walkout.
– January 25
London bus workers at Abellio will go on strike.
– January 26
London bus workers at Abellio will continue to strike.
They include driving examiners, call centre staff, driving instructing examining and local driving test managers.
Learner drivers may not know until today whether their tests will go ahead – the job action will not impact theory tests.
Driving hopefuls are advised to change their test dates if they’re worried about cancellations – though they might have to pay again.
The DVSA will automatically rebook any dropped driving tests, with new details sent within five to 10 working days.
Driving examiners will also be joined by Rural Payment Agency officers – they hand subsidy cheques to farmers, traders and landowners.
The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union, which represents civil servants, said government workers are taking to picket lines for a number of reasons.
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General secretary Mark Serwotka said: ‘The government, which has spent years turning a blind eye to our pay demands, will no longer be able to ignore us.Â
 ‘Our members are proud of their work, so it’s not easy for them to take action they know will affect the very people they came into the job to serve. Â
‘But the government has given them no option.
‘Their pay has fallen far below inflation and many of our members – the government’s own workforce – are forced to use foodbanks because they can’t afford to eat.’
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From trains to motorways, here’s how today’s strikes will affect you.Â
