The network is expected to come to a complete halt on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday as a result of the strike, which began at daybreak and will be lined by some of the more than 40,000 train employees who are scheduled to go on strike over those days. As a result of the strike, the London Underground was closed as well.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is under pressure to do more to help British households who face the toughest economic hit in decades, stated that the industrial action would harm businesses as they continue to recover from the pandemic. This statement came as the government was under pressure to do more to help British households who face the toughest economic hit in decades.
The unions have stated that the rail strikes could mark the beginning of a “summer of discontent,” with teachers, medical professionals, waste disposal workers, and even barristers moving towards industrial action as a result of rising food and fuel prices that are pushing inflation closer to 10 percent.
Mick Lynch, secretary-general of the Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT), said on Monday that their campaign would continue for as long as it is necessary for the campaign to continue. According to the Prime Minister, labour unions are doing damage to the same individuals they say they are trying to serve.
The economy of the United Kingdom originally made a healthy recovery after the Covid-19 outbreak; but, recent indicators point to the possibility of a recession as a result of labour shortages, disruptions in the supply chain, inflation, and challenges with post-Brexit commerce.
The recent wave of industrial action has been compared to the numerous labour strikes that the United Kingdom saw in the 1970s, notably the “winter of discontent” that occurred in 1978–1979. The strikes come at a time when passengers at British airports are experiencing chaotic delays and last-minute cancellations owing to personnel shortages, and when many Britons are forced to wait for new passports to arrive in the mail for months due to processing delays.
Because of the rail strike, during strike days around half of Britain’s rail network will be operational, but only a very limited service will be operating on those lines, and disruptions will persist even on days when the strike is not in effect.
