LIVE STRIKE UPDATES: Royal Mail, airport strikes and border forces add even more mayhem to Christmas

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Rishi Sunak says government salary offers are “reasonable” despite the strikes

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Customs workers have voted to strike at major airports over Christmas, threatening more travel chaos during the busy holiday period.

The PCS union said around 1,000 Border Force officials at passport control will walk into a dispute over wages and jobs from December 23-26 and again between December 28-31 in Gatwick, Heathrow, Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow and Cardiff.

Union boss Mark Sirocta admitted the airport strikes would have a “significant impact” on Britons’ travel plans.

Meanwhile, emergency workers may face additional restrictions on their right to strike, after Rishi Sunak announced his intention to impose “tough new laws” to counter industrial strike action.

Aides did not rule out the possibility that this could include a ban on strikes by ambulance staff and other emergency workers, or an extension of proposed minimum service level legislation to the entire public sector.

Mr Sunak’s comment came a day after unions GMB, Unison and Unite announced coordinated strikes by NHS staff including ambulance workers on 21 and 28 December.

View last update #1670449851: Anti-union tactics won’t intimidate strikers, says Unite President

The prime minister has been accused of “attacks against trade unions” after promising “tough” new laws to limit the strike’s impact.

“We are ready industrially and financially” to challenge any new measures Rishi Sunak tries to implement, said Sharon Graham, general secretary of Unite.

Downing Street has proposed proposing legislation to put limits on disruption caused by transport strikes that could be extended to other public services.

Graham accused Sunak of attacking unions as they struggle to raise workers’ wages as prices rise.

“No one will be fooled by this attempt to divert attention from the utter incompetence of this government,” she said.

“For Unite, this is very clear. We will not be afraid of attacks against trade unions. If they put more obstacles in our way, we will jump over them.

We are ready industrially and financially. As the Secretary General of Unite, I will continue to fight and win for the workers.”

Graham speaks on a picket line at the Port of Felixstowe in August

(PA)

Liam James Dec 7, 2022 21:50

1670445651 Overtly Stuck in the Middle of a Frontier Force Strike Row – Simon Calder

Simon Calder, travel correspondent for The Independent, appeared on LBC Tonight with Andrew Marr earlier to discuss the recently announced strike by airport staff.

“While I always try to look on the bright side… I’m afraid this is really dangerous,” he told listeners.

Watch his full look below:

Liam James Dec 7, 2022 20:40

1670441453 Rishi Sunak says rejected wage settlements ‘reasonable’

Rishi Sunak said the government was offering reasonable wage increases to workers, despite a wave of strikes rejecting those offers.

The prime minister was asked by ITV if ministers would reconsider their stance on a pay increase after the Scottish government raised its offer to nurses who are threatening to strike.

“We try to act sensibly,” he said, and referred to independent wage review bodies that recommend the level of public sector wage increase.

We have fully accepted their recommendations and the most important thing we can do to help people is to get inflation under control. We have to reduce inflation.

“This is what makes life difficult for the nurses and for everyone else in the country.”

Lecturer Emily Morgan stepped in to say that many sectors were striking on the side of nurses, including airport and rail workers. I asked, “How long can you go on like this without offering them more money? I mean, Britain will be at a standstill?”

Mr Sunak reiterated that the government was trying to act sensibly and respect independent reviews, and accused union leaders of being unreasonable.

Liam James Dec 7 2022 19:30

1670437858 Train drivers vote to continue the strike

Train drivers at 12 railway companies voted overwhelmingly to continue the strike in a long-running dispute over wages.

Advance, which represents most of Britain’s train drivers, said 93 per cent of members voted in favor of further action after four years without a wage increase.

Affected companies include:

Avanti West CoastCrossCountryGreat Western RailwayGTR Great Northern ThameslinkLondon North Eastern RailwaySouth East/Gatwick ExpressSouth Western Railway (depot drivers only)SWR Island Line West Midlands trains

My predecessors have staged five one-day strikes so far this year, most recently on November 26.

Liam James Dec 7 2022 18:30

Moonbegg is grappling with the fallout from the Tory winter of discontent. There will be many more like him.| Suspension

From James Moore, chief trade commentator, on the card company’s postal problems:

Why buy a card if you can’t rely on it to reach the recipient?

That’s the problem (beyond its control) facing Moonpig, the online greeting card and gift card company, which has just cut its full-year revenue forecast from £350m to £320m.

The group frequently used the word “flexible” in their semi-annual results, usually code for “It’s really, really hard.” and he. First-half earnings declined while the company’s future prospects were clouded by uncertainty.

Much of its rich data, loyal customers, and 79 million or so success has been made from the reminders it sends out on the occasions when they might want to buy things.

It also does some sensible things, in particular “de-leveraging,” which is one of those dreaded slang words CEOs like to use. As you probably know, it means “cut off debt,” which is exactly what you should be doing when winter comes.

But the city wasn’t buying it. Stocks fell by double digits as investors rushed to exit.

The problem was as clear to them as it is to the company’s customers. Delivery is out of Moonpig’s hands. Royal Mail – which puts company cards through the doors of its recipients – has been riven by strikes that are affecting many businesses, services and sectors.

Liam James, December 7, 2022, at 17:40

1670431323 Prepare for travel chaos, the Home Office says

The Home Office said passengers hoping to take flights over Christmas should “be prepared for turbulence”.

Union bosses have admitted that strikes will interfere with some travel, while a simultaneous rail strike threatens to add to travel problems.

The government said it was ready to replace the striking airport staff with soldiers, but warned not to avoid any disruption.

A Home Office spokesperson said: “We are disappointed that the union has decided to strike on proposed dates which will cause inconvenience to the public and businesses.

“We are working closely with all ports and airports in the UK and have strong plans in place to minimize any delays should the strike continue. However, passengers must be prepared for disruption.

“Those who intend to travel during the days of the strike should plan in advance and contact the relevant travel companies before traveling to check how the proposed strike will affect their trip.”

About 1,000 Border Force personnel are expected to walk out of the Union of Public and Commercial Services on December 23-26 and 28-31 respectively on jobs and wages, after voting to reject a 2 percent pay increase.

PC President Mark Sirotka announced the strikes earlier

(PA)

Liam James Dec 7, 2022 16:42

The union president admitted that the airport strike would be disruptive

The trade union boss has admitted strikes by airport staff will have a “significant impact” on Christmas travel.

The Confederation of Public and Commercial Services (PCS) said about 1,000 passport control officials will pull out from Dec. 23-26 and Dec. 28-31.

General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party Mark Sirotka said the strike would have a “significant impact” on travel plans during the holiday period.

Despite this, he warned the government against bringing in the army to cover the striking workers, saying there was not enough time to train them properly.

Transport Minister Baroness Ferry said military personnel had already been trained and would be used to ensure airports remain open.

The latest rail strike, which calls for 10 percent wage increases and job and pension settlements, will come as rail workers are out in a similar row.

Liam James Dec 7, 2022 16:18

1670428831 The Electoral MP who attacked Marcus Rashford can ‘shirk’, says Labour’s Rachel Reeves.

Conservative MP Natalie Elphick apologized last year after suggesting the Manchester United player should have spent more time “perfecting his game” than “playing politics”.

The tweet came after Rashford – who urged the government to expand free school meals – missed a penalty in the Euro 2020 final.

Ms. Reeves was scathing about Elphick and Tory’s policy on schools during the latest episode of Matt Ford’s political party podcast.

Maryam Zakir-Hussain7 December 2022 16:00

1670427631 UK strikes timeline: How the December industrial strike will affect you

Britain has had a rough patch in 2022, emerging from two years in the grip of coronavirus to face a terrible cost-of-living crisis caused by hyperinflation and skyrocketing energy bills exacerbated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Now, as Christmas approaches, we find ourselves in a “new winter of discontent” with the country’s unions, representing workers from a wide range of professions facing the public sector, concluding that they have no choice but to go on industrial strike as their calls for better wages and working conditions pass. Unanswered while rising prices erode profits.

Maryam Zakir-Hussain7 December 2022 15:40

1670426611 Airport employees are on strike for eight days at Christmas

Customs officials at major airports voted to strike for eight days over Christmas and New Year’s.

Border guards will withdraw from December 23-26 and December 28-31.

Keep up with this breaking news here:

Maryam Zakir-Hussain 7 December 2022 15:23

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