Public transport in the UK was again interrupted by another day of strike. It is the third consecutive day that workers have stopped their activities to demonstrate against inflation and the loss of purchasing power. On Thursday the mobilizations began in the railway sector and yesterday the London subway lines were added. It is also estimated that the strike will last until Sunday morning. Today only one train out of five will run on a normal day. The affiliated unions are Rail, Maritime and Transport, Transport Salaried Staffs Association and Unite and, for the moment, they assure that the talks with representatives of the government to reach an agreement are stopped. Transport Minister Grant Shapps, for his part, accused the unions of not wanting to accept reforms to modernise the sector and yesterday said they could eventually be imposed in a coercive manner.
Grant Shapps, Minister of Transport.
Trade unionist Mick Lynch, general secretary of Maritime and Transport, said rail workers have the support of citizens to speak out against unfavourable working conditions.
“I think the British are pretty fed up with being scammed by this government and British businessmen, with companies like BP (energy company) and British Gas making huge profits while people have a hard time making a living.”
Mick Lynch, general secretary of the Maritime and Transport union. Source: PA Wire
In the United Kingdom, there has been no anti-inflation strike for decades. Inflation that in July reached 10.1% year-on-year and could exceed 13% year-on-year in October, according to an estimate by the Bank of England.
