UK strikes spoil the advent of Christmas

UK is experiencing a new variety of Christmas chaos, this time not Covid-related but brought about by public workers’ strikes. On top of the freezing temperatures and the cost of energy, in an effort to cause maximum inconvenience and instability, the UK’s powerful workers unions seem to have coordinated their industrial action around Christmas.

- ANTONIA FILMER

For the first time in NHS history nurses have begun two days of walkouts demanding a 19% pay increase, ambulances workers are also striking on two different days; domestic and international travel will be severely disrupted as bus, rail, highway workers, border force and baggage handlers will be striking over several simultaneous days over the holidays; Royal Mail strike action has been ongoing and will continue up to the two days before Christmas, and driving examiners have walked out from 13 December until 7 January 2023. All workers are asking for pay in line with inflation.

This means that NHS hospitals will be short staffed, operations will be delayed, and patient backlogs will build up—all good ammunition for the Labour Party against the government; commuters will not get to work, which is bad for the economy; roads will be hazardous; airports will be congested; and passengers have been advised to cancel travel plans over the holidays; retail and hospitality will suffer—Christmas “parties” provide a large share of pubs and restaurants’ income at this time of year and many are being cancelled again; families are having trouble getting together; the strikes will stymie Christmas cards and deliveries, already retailers are saying do not shop online; customers must buy in-store as gifts posted will not reach by the 25th.