All the confirmed national strike actions, ballots and industrial disputes currently going on across the UK
A number of trade unions have warned that industrial action is a necessary last resort in the face of real-terms pay cuts for workers across the economy
As inflation continues to rise, fuelling a cost of living crisis which shows no signs of abating, many workers across the economy are opting for industrial action in a bid to win real-terms pay increases.
With the latest figures showing CP inflation hitting 9.4% in June and RPI at around 11%, many people are set to receive a real-terms pay cut this year.
Trade unions, charities and a number of think tanks have all called for workers to receive pay rises which at least keep pace with inflation, although figures from the Bank of England and in government have warned against this as they say this could fuel further inflation.
In the face of this, many trade unions have already announced some form of industrial action, or have announced ballots of workers to see if they support taking strike action.
These are all the main national strike, strike ballots and potential disputes to have been announced.
Trade unions, charities and a number of think tanks have all called for workers to receive pay rises which at least keep pace with inflation, although figures from the Bank of England and in government have warned against this as they say this could fuel further inflation.
9. Buses
More than 1,800 drivers across the North West have walked out on strike, causing Arriva North West to cancel all services, in a long-running dispute over pay. Workers from depots in Birkenhead, Bolton, Bootle, Liverpool, Macclesfield, Manchester, Runcorn, Southport, Speke, St Helens and Winsford will take part in continuous strike action.
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A number of drivers say their wages are so low that they have to claim Universal Credit, with rates of pay varying between depots, but generally in the early-to-mid £20,000s. Negotiations have been ongoing since February, with the company initially offering a 3% non-conditional increase or a deal worth 6% which would include a reduction in sick pay and loss of Saturday enhanced pay. Arriva Yorkshire workers have voted to end strike action after being offered an increase pay deal as a result of industrial action. More than 600 workers took four weeks of strike action in the dispute after rejecting a 4.1 per cent increase. The improved offer which members voted to accept in the last few days is worth on average 9%, according to Unite.
10. Teachers
The National Education Union, (NEU) which represents thousands of teachers in England, has warned that strike action could be on the cards if the government doesn’t revise its proposed pay increase of 5%. The union has criticised the 5% pay offer, describing it as a 7% pay decrease in light of historically high rates of inflation, particularly in the context of a pay-freeze last year. The government has offered an 8.9% increase to the starting salary for new teachers. Among the five major unions which represent teachers and school leaders in England - ASCL, NAHT, NASUWT, NEU and Community - there is a consensus that the pay offer put forward is inadequate. NEU will commence a ballot of members in early September, while Nasuwt has also indicated that it will ballot members in England, Wales and Scotland for industrial action. Educators have spoken out about poor rates of pay and overworking, which is resulting in almost a third of newly-qualified teachers leaving the profession within five years.
11. Scottish local government
A ballot of local government workers in Scotland will conclude today (26 July), with an expectation that there will be a mandate for strike action over pay. After the ballot opened on 10 June, UNISON workers across the local government sector in Scotland have been voting on a ‘derisory’ 2% pay offer put forward by COSLA earlier this year. An indicative online consultation run by the union showed majority support for rejecting the offer and taking industrial action if needed. UNISON Scotland has said it will take targeted strike action, meaning not all members have been balloted, although the dispute relates to pay for all workers.
12. Civil servants
The largest union representing civil servants has announced a six-week ballot on industrial action, following the announcement of a 4.75% pay offer for public sector workers earlier this month. The strike ballot announced by PCS relates not only to pay, but also pensions, job cuts and redundancy terms, and will run from 26 September until 7 November. Civil servants were initially offered 2%, which was rejected by PCS, which had submitted a pay claim of 10%, with the union pointing out that workers haven’t had a real-terms pay rise since 2010. PCS has indicated that it will seek to coordinate industrial action with other unions operating across the public sector.
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