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A wave of industrial action is sweeping across the country, affecting various industries including postal services, the education sector, and the railways.
Some of the strikes will be taking place on the same day, leading to widespread disruptions. Today (November 24) picket lines will be mounted outside schools, universities and Royal Mail centres as tens of thousands of workers stage a walkout over pay, jobs, and conditions.
However, strike dates have also been planned for the run-up to Christmas, with workers across industries asking for a variety of improved benefits. If you’re concerned about being affected by the strikes, concerned with sending parcels, sending a child to school, or travelling by rail, we’ve broken down all the planned strike dates so far and the upcoming ballots.
Read more: Royal Mail strike dates in November and December
Royal Mail, BT, and Openreach
Members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) have been involved in a long-running dispute with companies and have already been involved in strike action in recent weeks. The union highlighted that relations between worker and employer have deteriorated, with Royal Mail serving legal notice that it was withdrawing from existing agreements with the CWU.
The strike dates are as follows:
- Friday, November 25
- Wednesday, November 30
- Thursday, December 1
- Friday, December 9
- Sunday, December 11
- Wednesday, December 14
- Thursday, December 15
- Friday, December 23
- Saturday, December 24
A Royal Mail spokesperson said: “Our preference is for an agreement with the CWU but the change we need is not optional. They should be focused on a resolution to this dispute for their members and the long-term health of the business, rather than damaging strike action.”
Teachers and lecturers
Around 70,000 members of the University and College Union (UCU) will go on strike over a dispute with pay, pensions and contracts. It is the biggest strike of its kind, affecting an estimated 2.5 million students. The strike dates are as follows:
- Thursday, November 24
- Friday, November 25
- Wednesday, November 30
UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: “University staff are taking the biggest strike action in the history of higher education. They have had enough of falling pay, pension cuts and gig economy working conditions – all whilst vice-chancellors enjoy lottery-win salaries and live it up in their grace and favour mansions.
“Staff are burnt out, but they are fighting back and they will bring the whole sector to a standstill.”
Railway
Train operator union ASLEF will hold a day of national strike action over the weekend, followed by a series of 48-hour strikes by rail union RMT across December. The strike days will likely disrupt services for most rail operators with many planned trains either being heavily delayed, or outright cancelled.
The strike dates are as follows:
- Saturday, November 26 – ASLEF
- Tuesday, December 13 – RMT
- Wednesday, December 14 – RMT
- Friday, December 16 – RMT
- Saturday, December 17 – RMT
Food and drink
Hundreds of workers who deliver food to KFC, Burger King, Pizza Hut, and Wagamama have voted to strike over a pay dispute. The GMB union said the majority of its members employed by Bestfood voted in favour of industrial action.
Strike dates are yet to be announced by GMB.
Workers at brewers Greene King will also go on strike in a row over pay. Unite said 188 of its members based in Bury St Edmunds, Eastwood, Nottinghamshire, and Abingdon, Oxfordshire, will walk out for five days from December 5.
The workers brew and distribute Greene King’s products including IPA, Old Speckled Hen and Abbot Ale.
Nurses and doctors
The Royal College of Nursing announced earlier this month that nursing staff at the majority of NHSA employers across the UK had voted to strike over pay and patient safety. Other health unions are also balloting workers for industrial actions, while ambulance staff in Scotland are due to walk out on Monday.
A ballot among hundreds of thousands of Unison members closes on Friday, while a ballot for Unite’s NHS members will close next week. On January 9, junior doctors will vote on whether or not they will go on strike.
Civil servants
Civil servants in the Home Office, Border Force, Department for Transport, and Defra will take industrial action, affecting ports. The Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) said action will start in mid-December and continue for a month.
PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said the action will affect driving tests and the issuing of driving licences, as well as passport control at airports.
Firefighters
The Fire Brigades Union announced that members have voted to reject a 5 per cent pay offer, with a ballot on strike action opening on Monday, December 5 which will last until Monday, January 23, 2023.
Cash and coin delivery
Hundreds of G4S security staff who deliver cash and coins have voted to strike in December, prompting fears of shortages ahead of Christmas. The industrial action could impact the supply of cash and coins at banking clients such as Barclays, HSBC and Santander, and supermarkets including Tesco, Asda and Aldi.
The GMB union said it will be the first ever strike at G4S after union members voted to walk out, with a 97% vote in favour of action. It said the strike is scheduled to take place from 3am on December 5.
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