Bizarre Christmas carol sounds UK as rail and passport workers strike

Amid the re-emergence of Covid19 crisis millions of Britons are facing a potentially messy Christmas carol as the railways and the airport border staff have called for a nationwide strike, and various unions have accused respective ministers of utter disregard for the critical issue of pay revision. The ministers are alleged of going missing rather than negotiating over pay. The festivity has been marred by severe traffic nightmares added by heavy rains and flooding of areas. Disruption of railway and airport services has dampened the spirit of the celebrations and the Sunak Government has not taken adequate notice to resolve the issues at this juncture.

On the eve of Christmas celebrations, most of the Britons are facing the worst state of affairs as the strikes by Railways and Airport unions have completely paralysed civic amenities. Motorists are facing “a traffic nightmare before Christmas” due to heavy rain and flooding and the widespread industrial disruption has added to the woes. Most rail services will end by 3 pm on Christmas Eve lasting until 6 am on 27 December. Daily commuters will have to look for other avenues.

Minister’s missing – accused of apathy and utter disregard

The various unions have accused ministers of “going missing” with no further negotiations since the union and industry leaders met the Rail Minister, Huw Merriman, last week. The apathy by the authorities during the festive season has caused strong discontent among the Railway-Airport Employees as well as the common citizens.

Meanwhile, the Union’s General Secretary, Mick Lynch has declared that until the government gives the rail industry a go-ahead to come to a negotiated settlement on job security, pay and conditions of work, their strike shall continue.

Army has taken over Airports

As an alternate measure, the government has deployed the army to take over immigration controls at six airports around Britain on Friday – Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow and Cardiff.

However, the worst of the feared commotion for inbound passengers, who had been advised in advance to expect long queues and possible disruption during the Christmas weekend, did not happen, with some passengers at Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester claiming to have gotten through the immigration process more quickly than usual.

Actions and consequences may escalate in the New Year

The actions and consequences may escalate in the New Year if the pay revision agreements are not arrived at. Officials at various seaports would eventually join in larger numbers, and that may worsen the situation in the New Year. The major Union PCS (Public and Commercial Services Union) have hinted that members at bigger ports like Dover would join soon and the strikes may continue for over six months across various government departments. PCS General Secretary Serwotka added the government is going to face huge intensification in the actions in January, covering more departments, unless the authorities come forward towards the negotiating table.

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Rail firms and motoring organisations suggested the worst of the Christmas festivity may have been mitigated if the people had opted to travel earlier in the week before the Unions called for a strike.

The roads were extremely busy on Friday nonetheless, with more than half the usual number of daily breakdowns reported due to heavy showers, causing disruptions and congestion in traffic movement. Besides a third of the people were compelled to drive, otherwise, on a normal day, they would have used trains. The situations in Glasgow, Manchester and Birmingham were the worst of all.

After a slow start, the traffic nightmare before Christmas is getting worse as on the 24th and 25th of December the roads will be the busiest with some 17 million trips estimated each day.”

Respite by Ambulance Workers – Withdrawn Strike at the moment

At the moment the ambulance workers have withdrawn their strike which was planned from 28th December to 11th January, as a way for showing concern for common citizens, however, the Royal College of Nursing announced two dates for January.

The Ministers who are claimed to be missing or have left for various overseas destinations on the eve of Christmas will have to face the wrath of the common citizens in the New Year and adding to the despair more number of public sector unions have pledged a long-term strike action in January 2023.

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