What strikes are planned in November 2022? From Tubes to universities

Months of strike action has taken place – with workers from all walks of life pushing for fairer pay in line with the cost of living crisis and rising inflation rates.

It has since been announced that nurses have voted to go on strike across the UK for the first time since their union was founded 106 years ago.

More than 300,000 members of the Royal College of Nursing were balloted over whether they supported strike action in response to a below-inflation pay deal.

From rail workers to local waste collectors and barristers, many different unions have gone on strike at different times, leading some to wonder if there could be a general strike in the UK.

While that remains unknown, we do know that industrial action will continue into November 2022.

Here are the upcoming strike dates.

Rail network

Despite strikes earlier this month being cancelled as last-minute talks with Network Rail were secured, action will take place at the end of November.

A brand new strike, including train drivers at 12 operators, will take place on November 26 in a long-running dispute over pay, Aslef confirmed.

Workers will also strike on November 22 and 25.

Almost 1,000 bus drivers in London are to stage a series of strikes over pay.

For those looking to travel, there will be cancelled or severely reduced services.

The union said the company had not made an offer on pay even though an increase is due in January.

Tube and London Overground

London Underground and London Overground staff who are members of the Rail, Maritime, and Transport Union (RMT) will walk out on Thursday, November 10 for 24 hours.

Previously, rail staff across the national were due to take industrial action over major disagreements on November 5, 7, and 9 – however, these were cancelled for ‘unconditional’ talks.

The RMT was also planning to strike on November 3, but rearranged the strike to avoid a clash with charity The Royal British Legion’s crucial London Poppy Day appeal.

However, more chaos may yet to arrive if the union and Network Rail don’t reach a deal, as RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch explained: ‘The current dispute remains very much live.

‘The union is continuing its re-ballot of members to secure a fresh mandate for action with the result due on November 15.’

University staff strikes

University and higher education staff with the University and College Union (UCU) are set to strike at the end of November.

The planned dates are November 24, 25 and 30, and will take place at more than 150 universities.

Around 70,000 university staff with UCU voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action over pay, working conditions, and pensions, in two recent national ballots.

UCU General Secretary Jo Grady said: ‘Campuses across the UK are about to experience strike action on a scale never seen before. 70,000 staff will walk out and make clear they refuse to accept falling pay, cuts to pensions and insecure employment.

‘This is not a dispute about affordability – it is about choices.

‘Vice-chancellors are choosing to pay themselves hundreds of thousands of pounds whilst forcing our members onto low paid and insecure contracts that leave some using food banks. They choose to hold billions in surpluses whilst slashing staff pensions.

‘UCU members do not want to strike but are doing so to save the sector and win dignity at work.’

Royal Mail workers called off strikes after an emergency meeting on Sunday, October 30.

The Communication Workers Union (CWU) said it had decided to withdraw industrial action notices after a legal letter from Royal Mail. The strikes were originally set to take place on November 2, 3 and 4 – with additional action on November 8, 9 and 10.

There were previous plans for strike action on November 12 and 14, too, but these have also been withdrawn.

Judging by the CWU and Royal Mail websites, it seems there will be CWU strike action later in November, instead.

The CWU website states: ‘The CWU announced they will be notifying Royal Mail they plan to call on their members who collect, sort and deliver parcels and letters to take national strike action on Thursday 24 and Friday 25 November and for Wednesday 30 November and Thursday 1 December 2022.’

Royal Mail’s website, however, notes that the dates have (at the time of writing) not been formally notified to them (and they need to be within 14 days to go ahead).

The company also adds: ‘On October 31, Royal Mail proposed a new conditional pay-for-change offer to [CWU] worth 9% for CWU-grade colleagues which includes a 7% salary increase over two years, plus a lump sum payment of 2% of pay this year.

‘The offer is subject to agreeing a programme of change with the CWU. The CWU claim they are open to change but they now need to show it.’

MORE : Hundreds of thousands of nurses vote to go on strike for the first time

MORE : When are the next public transport strikes? November 2022 dates

MORE : Why your train may be ‘severely disrupted’ despite strikes being called off