What is a General Strike and how likely is it as speculation mounts over mass walkout

Workers last participated in a general strike in 1926, but since then successive Tory governments have introduced strict legislation unions must follow to ensure industrial action is legal

Widespread industrial unrest could open the door to strikes in “every sector of the economy”, a union boss has warned – sparking speculation of a General Strike.

Mick Lynch said the ongoing rail dispute, which saw thousands of workers walk out today in the latest of a series of strikes over the summer, could be prolonged “indefinitely”.

The general secretary of the RMT union stopped short of predicting a general strike, saying: “It’s not in my power, it’s up to the [Trade Union Congress] TUC”.

But he added: “What you are going to get is a wave of solidarity action, generalised strike action, synchronised action.

“And you’ll see it in every sector of the economy, in education, in health, wider parts of the transport system, in all sectors, the private sector as well.”

His remarks come less than 24 hours after Royal Mail workers voted overwhelmingly in favour of strikes in a second ballot over terms and conditions – with around eight days of action planned.

Unions representing teachers, civil servants and nurses are also expected to ballot their members in the autumn months amid record-level inflation, surging energy bills, and falling real wages.

What is a general strike?

It generally refers to a significant proportion of workers organising across all sectors of the economy and agreeing to walkout of their respective industries to demand better conditions.

When was the last general strike?

The last general strike was held in 1926 over nine days in May, with millions coming out to support miners in their dispute over pay and worsening conditions.

In the country’s largest industrial dispute, miners were joined by union members from key industries, including the railways, printers and dockers.

When the strike was called off, declassified cabinet papers show senior ministers claiming it was a “victory for the common sense of a united British people and it is now necessary not to look behind but ahead with no spirit of malice or vindictiveness’.

Who can call a general strike?

Earlier this year a top union chief raised the prospect of a general strike, telling The Mirror: “I am a passionate believer that we may need to consider having a general strike.”

But only The Trade Union Congress (TUC) – an umbrella organisation representing 48 unions ­­- has the power to call a general strike.

How likely is a general strike?

Given there has not been a general strike for 96 years, it is extremely unlikely and since the 1920s there have been multiple crackdowns on industrial action.

Margaret Thatcher outlawed “sympathy” walkouts where workers take action for those who aren’t in their own industry and in recent years the UK has also introduced much tougher strike.

In order to ensure strike action is legal, unions must ballot members in their respective sector, and then achieve the required threshold in order to stage a walk out.

Unions could potentially coordinate the timing of strike action, but this is not the same as a general strike, with workers from a majority of sectors across the economy downing tools.