London. Workers of 14 British train companies have struck again to demand higher wages as the cost of living rises. It is estimated that only 40-50% of trains will run in the UK today, disrupting millions of commuters. The union action follows recent protests by teachers, medical specialists and civil servants to demand higher wages to deal with soaring inflation of 10.1%. The Rail and Maritime Transport (RMT) union, which called the strike, estimates more than 20,000 workers will join. The union called for another mobilization on March 30 and April 1. These strikes are in addition to many others that the sector has carried out in recent months. The Confederation of Public and Commercial Services (PCS), which represents workers at the UK Passport Office, has called a strike on Friday 3 April to demand better wages.
Protest at Heathrow
The union of security personnel at London’s Terminal 5 Heathrow Airport, which is affiliated with British Airways, has called for a 10-day strike – starting next March 31 – as part of an ongoing wage dispute.
Union unite, reports BBC, said more than 1,400 of its members working at Heathrow would strike until 9 April, which is Easter Sunday. The strike, which has been set by the union, will affect both the security personnel in Terminal 5 and the staff who screen cargo arriving at the airport. Heathrow Holdings said in a statement that contingency plans were in place to keep the airport running: travelers can rest assured the airport will be “open and operational despite unnecessary threats from ‘Unite to Strike’,” the statement read. It has proposed a “10% wage increase in line with inflation”, but the union says the offer does not make up for years of pay freezes and cuts.
Half of the trains will not run
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