Britain: Strikes are expected to paralyze the transport network in London today

London’s transport network is expected to be paralyzed today as tube and bus workers strike over pay and working conditions, with double-digit inflation eating into wages.

All London Underground lines are expected to be affected today, commuter rail services in the capital will be reduced and bus services in west London will also be limited, Transport for London (TFL) has announced.

Tens of thousands of workers on the wider national rail network went on strike yesterday, Thursday, and will strike again tomorrow, Saturday.

Transport unions are staging rail strikes across the country this year demanding pay and better working conditions for their members, demands that reflect the rising cost of living caused by inflation, which in turn is fueled by rise in energy prices.

The data showed inflation at 10.1% in July, the highest level since February 1982, as rising energy costs due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine hit consumers directly through their household bills and indirectly through an increase of food prices.

That has led to a standoff between companies, which say rising costs and falling demand are limiting their bargaining power, unions, which say their workers can’t live on the wages they’re getting, and the government, which is concerned that large wage increases may fuel inflation.

The RMT union has announced that the Tube strike is in response to a lack of assurances from TFL on jobs and pensions. TFL itself is in protracted negotiations with the government after an emergency government funding deal expired, partly due to a drop in passengers following the pandemic.

Workers in other British industries are also planning future strikes or already taking action. These include longshoremen, lawyers, teachers, nurses, firefighters and workers in waste collection, airports and post offices.

Source: AMPE