Britain will face an unprecedented wave of strikes this month as many different sectors of workers have announced industrial action - particularly in the heart of the festive season.[/B] This is the first really big challenge for Rissy Shunak's government.
The long strike "list" was joined today by so-called Border Force workers, which means serious disruption to the operation of the country's main airports.
The general secretary of the PCS union has announced consecutive strikes from 23 to 26 December and 28 to 31 December by Border Force workers in transport and immigration services, national motorways - and, of course, the country's six main airports, including Heathrow and Gatwick.
At airports, Border Force members are responsible for passport checks. This means that checks on travellers' details will take much longer, with the Heathrow authorities already issuing a warning of long delays. The union announced the walkouts, protesting against low wages amid a "soaring" cost of living, but also reacting to the new government's threats of job cuts.
In fact, it made it clear that the walkouts would continue and escalate with the new year.
Recently, the strongest union of British rail workers, the RMT, announced strike action from Christmas Eve until 27 December, as the long-running dispute over pay and working conditions escalates.
Yesterday, Tuesday, thousands of ambulance staff announced they would walk off duty on 21 December. Meanwhile, nurses have announced a strike from 15 to 20 December and postal workers are preparing to "roll down the rolls" at a crucial time for the delivery of greeting cards and gifts.
However, Shunak government ministers appear unwilling to improve pay offers, while Downing Street believes, according to Politico, that it has the voters on its side, at least vis-à-vis the railroad workers. The government spokesman even called on the unions "to recognize that they still have time to back down," something "the public and the government want to see."
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