Latest news with #strikes
Telegraph
3 days ago
- Business
- Telegraph
Gatwick strike action poses threat to start of summer holidays
British holidaymakers may face disruption ahead of summer as staff at the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) are to stage fresh strikes in a dispute over pay and conditions. Members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union based at sites including Gatwick airport will walk out on June 3, 4, 10, 11, 17 and 18, following stoppages in January and March. Pay negotiations for 2025-26 are under way, but PCS warned the gap between the two sides was 'significant'. Fran Heathcote, PCS general secretary, said: 'We're frustrated and disappointed after management imposed a 2024 pay offer without engaging in meaningful negotiations. 'The current offer – a one-off, non-consolidated payment of £1,150 – has been rejected by union members as inadequate amid rising living costs and concerns about long-term pay erosion. 'Our members deserve a fair pay rise that reflects the cost of living, restores the value of their salaries and recognises the value of their work. Instead, CAA has chosen to bypass negotiations and impose a deal, which is unacceptable to us.' A spokesman for the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said: 'We continue to engage with our PCS trade union colleagues, and after prolonged discussions it is disappointing that PCS trade union members are taking industrial action in June. 'PCS trade union members make up approximately 5 per cent of the CAA's employees and we do not anticipate any disruption to the aviation sector, or any impact on our regulatory oversight activities or other safety and security critical work, as a result of this action.' Previously in April, Unite, the union, warned of 'flight delays, cancellations, long queues at check-in and baggage delays', in Gatwick. Staff who worked for Red Handling, a firm that provides baggage handlers, check-in staff and flight dispatchers for the airlines Norwegian, Delta, TAP and Air Peace, staged the strike over the Easter weekend.
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The Independent
3 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
‘Why are they striking? Because they can': Readers frustrated by threat of further NHS industrial action
Strikes by NHS doctors are once again making headlines and dividing opinion across the country. As junior doctors vote on whether to take more industrial action, Health Secretary Wes Streeting has urged them to say no, warning that more strikes will only hurt patients and stall progress. Doctors say they've had enough of being underpaid and undervalued, with some calling for a near 30 per cent pay rise to make up for years of real-terms cuts. But public support is slipping, and some patients are losing patience. In a poll of Independent readers, two-thirds of respondents said they felt strikes would hurt patients and should not go ahead. Bigger questions also lurk behind the pay dispute: is the NHS properly funded? Is immigration helping or hurting the system? And how do we train and keep enough staff without burning them out or driving them abroad? When we asked for your views, some readers blamed poor management, others pointed to staff shortages and rising demand. But one thing was clear: the NHS is at breaking point, and something has to give. Here's what you had to say: User changes We need some user charges for health care. This is to encourage people to look after their health. Despite more money being poured into the NHS than ever before, the number of people needing treatment continues to rise even faster. User charges would also enable doctors to be paid properly and prevent them from leaving for other countries. Mark A career, not a vocation When becoming a doctor became a career rather than a vocation, it seems to have become both in thrall to Big Pharma and motivated by greed rather than concern for patient or societal well-being — something else unwanted, imported from the USA. Topsham1 Rising demand means rising contributions If we went back to the NHS of the 1950s, 60s, 70s, etc., we could probably reduce funding considerably. However, what the NHS does and the numbers it does it for consistently rises. If we really want it to meet the need comprehensively, we'll need to increase contributions. To keep up with rising costs and modern treatments, this seems inevitable. We seem to accept rising costs in most areas of life, but think we can run the NHS on less. Go figure. Strangely Enough Striking while patients suffer is wrong I think it is morally wrong to take industrial action that will knowingly harm patients. The dispute is not with them. Strikes are to put pressure on the employer, in this case the government, to up their offer. But if inadequate pay is causing retention problems, then the pressure is already there. EarthFirst Top-heavy If you get rid of the thousands of administrators/managers on £100,000+ salaries, you can afford a pay rise for doctors and nurses. The NHS is way too top-heavy. VonGenschler A good carpenter can out-earn most doctors I've spent a lot of time in and out of hospitals in recent times and have had excellent treatment overall. It would be good if our NHS staff were the world's highest paid, but that can't happen because hospitals are oversubscribed with the growing number of people, many of whom are not entitled by birth to do so. Doctors and other staff are also not necessarily native in any way, but I, for one, am glad they're here. Today, a good carpenter can out-earn most doctors up to registrar level, which must be galling for those with higher education and ambition. As an older person, I use the NHS more frequently. Sometimes I'm aware that me living means someone might not get that important appointment. Another thing is free prescriptions – I receive twelve items more or less each month. Again, I wonder how on earth I could pay the cost that others have to pay. My prescriptions are delivered free as well. I don't know how this is financed, but someone does. I suppose, one day, they will carry out the most enormous cull to balance things up a little. I wouldn't blame them – maybe they're already planning it. Martyn GPs failings GPs bear a great chunk of the NHS failings that are occurring today. My recollection of GP services concerns the home birth of our second child. There were no complications – in fact, labour only lasted for three hours – but our GP at the time came to the house during the labour and returned three days after the birth to check that the baby and mother were in good fettle, which they were. Do GPs give that sort of service today? Cameron promised 24/7 GP service, but that went unfulfilled. A battle needs to take place, with GPs becoming employees of the NHS and being paid a good rate for the job. Present partnerships must be put to the sword. MORDEY Greed As I am in my 80s, I am lucky enough to remember when being a doctor was a vocation, not just another job. Sadly, those days are gone. It appears that greed is now what motivates our young doctors. Why are they striking? Because they can. Do they care that people may die because of their actions? No. Paqs 'Wealthfare' state vs NHS spending How come we never have these "debates" when we spend on the "wealthfare" state (aka socialism for the rich), but must always have them whenever it's time to spend on anything else? I ask because even Big Oil and Big Pharma, the arms industry, etc., apparently need subsidies, tax relief, grants and sundry other largesse, while overworked NHS workers must live on food banks, or have their relative peanuts "debated." — Ryhope1 UK failed to retain its own medics The NHS has been subsidised by the developing world, who train its doctors and nurses since its inception. It is incapable of recruiting and retaining UK staff like me, who went to Australia as soon as I completed my training. Kwame The conversation isn't over. To join in, all you need to do is register your details, then you can take part in the discussion. You can also sign up by clicking 'log in' on the top right-hand corner of the screen.
The Independent
4 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Every European travel strike you need to know about this summer: Simon Calder's round-up
The peak summer months are about to begin. The odds are that between now and September, most travellers to, from and within Europe will get where they need to be roughly on time. Last week, Britain's biggest budget airline, easyJet, revealed a raft of measures to try to protect summer passengers from disruption caused by strikes as well as air-traffic control constraints and bad weather. This week, SAS Scandinavian Airlines reached a settlement with cabin crew to avert a threatened strike. But travel is acutely susceptible to disruption caused by industrial action: it requires a wide array of employees to work together in order for holidaymakers to complete their journeys. French and British rail workers, Scottish airport staff and transport employees in dozens of Italian locations are threatening industrial action in June – with the possibility of more to come during the peak summer months. The effects of strikes vary significantly. While rail stoppages in Belgium and the Netherlands typically wipe out almost all services, many bouts of industrial action have only a limited effect. Passengers' rights are uneven, too. If a flight is cancelled for any reason – including strikes – the airline is obliged to get the traveller to their destination as soon as possible, and to provide meals and accommodation as appropriate until that happens. But rail and ferry passengers have much weaker rights. The Independent has conducted a sweep of transport providers across Europe to identify the pain points as the main summer surge gets under way. These are the key issues that are known as of 30 May 2025. In addition, other strikes may be called at short notice. For example, members of the taxi drivers' union for the Athens area are currently on strike, with a stoppage called at just 48 hours' notice. Belgium Members of Belgian trade unions working for public services – including railways and airports – have been striking roughly once a month so far during 2025. No specific strike days have been set for the summer months, but the grievances that triggered the earlier walk-outs – over government pension reform – still persist. If you have a ticket for a future train on a strike day in Belgium, you should get advance warning. Stoppages are notified eight working days ahead, and operational staff must declare whether or not they will work at least 72 hours before the start of the industrial action. 'An alternative transport plan may be drawn up and communicated to travellers 24 hours in advance,' says SNCB (Belgian Railways). France In past summers, strikes by French air-traffic controllers have affected hundreds of thousands of travellers. But Kenton Jarvis, chief executive of easyJet, is more optimistic about 2025. He told The Independent: 'It's down to whether the air traffic controllers decide they want to put a strike in, and we'll have to wait to see if they do that. 'But I'm hoping the resilience measures we have – and the fact that they should protect the overflying and just really doing it on a local level if it's in France – should help.' Rail passengers may not be able to avoid disruption. 4 June: Train drivers working for SNCF (French Railways) will walk out. Typically around half of long-distance trains are cancelled. City transport is less badly affected. 5 June: National strike involving rail staff as well as many other professions in protest against pension reform. Ryanair and easyJet, Europe's biggest budget airlines, say they do not anticipate disruption to their services, though getting to and from French airports may be tricky. Cross-Channel ferries may also experience some disruption. 11 June: Train controllers (on-board staff) working for SNCF will walk out. The impact is likely to be similar to the train drivers' strike, with about half of trains running. Italy The Italian transport ministry has a dedicated web page that lists the dozens of walk-outs each week by transport workers across the country. Many of these are localised and may be for as little as four hours. But they can still affect travellers. The following summary does not include events such as the 3 June national strike by rail maintenance staff, as this is unlikely to impact passengers on the day. 1 June: Public transport workers, Genoa, 24 hours. 3 June: Public transport workers, Sardinia, 4 hours. 4 June: Public transport workers, Tuscany (including Florence), 5.30pm-9.30pm. 6 June: Public transport workers, Bolzano, 24 hours. 9 June: Public transport workers, La Spezia, 11am-3pm. 13 June: Airports – a big one. Workers at Venice, Milan Malpensa and Milan Linate airport will walk out for 24 hours. A concurrent nationwide strike will affect airline passengers from 1pm to 5pm, a key time for many arrivals and departures. 14 June: Sardinia rail staff for 24 hours from 9pm. 15 June: Public transport workers, Naples, 12.45pm-4.45pm. 15 June: Piedmont rail staff for 23 hours from 3am. 16 June: Staff working for Trenord (Milan and Italian Lakes) walk out for 23 hours from 3am. 19 June: In the evening, 24-hour nationwide strikes by rail workers and motorway staff will begin, continuing until late on 20 June. 5 July: At 2pm staff working for the large ferry company Grandi Navi Veloci will begin a 48-hour strike. 7 July: As the ferry strike ends, a national rail strike begins – 21 hours from 9pm. 11 July: Palermo airport staff, 24 hours. 17 July: Ferry workers, Strait of Messina (connecting mainland with Sicily), 9am-5pm. Netherlands The big rail unions are threatening industrial action after the last pay deal expired without agreement on a replacement. While it is too early to say if a walk-out will go ahead, the effect is usually to shut down all NS (Dutch Railways) trains. UK 'Glasgow and Edinburgh airport summer strike action looms,' is the headline from the Unite union after a pay offer from ground handler Menzies Aviation was overwhelmingly rejected by staff. 'If the company fail to table a better offer to our members, Unite will have no option but to ballot our members for strikes over the summer holidays.' Talks to avert a walk-out have been taking place this week. Phil Lloyd, senior vice president UK, Menzies Aviation, said: 'Following the rejection of recent pay award proposals, we remain committed to seeking a resolution. 'We have invited Unite to return to the table to continue discussions this week and hope to reach an agreement which is workable for both the business and our employees at both Edinburgh and Glasgow. We will continue to work to pursue an agreeable solution to protect services for our airline and airport partners and their customers.' At London Heathrow, the busiest airport in Europe, 800 Wilson James workers assisting passengers with restricted mobility have been striking in the past week as part of a pay dispute. They are members of the Unite union, whose general secretary Sharon Graham said that 'these strikes will continue to intensify' unless an acceptable pay offer is made. 9 June: Five-month overtime ban begins by members of the RMT union working for CrossCountry. The ban applies from Monday to Saturday until 25 October; it is not in effect on Sundays, when many train operators rely on staff working overtime to run services.
BBC News
5 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Unite to challenge Birmingham bin strike picket court order
Unite the Union has said it is preparing to challenge a court order which prevents its members from delaying bin lorries leaving depots in interim injunction was granted by the High Court on 23 May, after collections were said to have been disrupted by striking union added it had agreed to abide by the law on picketing and would continue to conduct a lawful, peaceful City Council said it had applied for the order to continue on an indefinite basis so workers were "freely able to leave their depots", and its efforts to resolve the dispute continued. Police recently scaled down their presence on picket lines, where they had been helping to ensure bin trucks could leave to prevent waste piling up on city council said on Friday it had sought the injunction after seeing "an increase in disruption" at depots, with "workers and vehicles being prevented from doing their job".The West Midlands force withdrew after stating the issues did "not meet the threshold" to impose powers under Section 14 of the Public Order Act. However, Unite said it believed the injunction should not have been granted."Unite was given no proper notice of the hearing and had no opportunity to present our side of the case," it said in a statement. The authority said it acknowledged that everyone had the right to protest and the union had the right to organise picketing in line with their statutory rights."The terms of the order which Unite has now agreed is designed to ensure that this is all done within the confines of the law," it who are members of the union have been involved in all-out industrial action since 11 March in a pay row that now also includes a dispute over bin lorry drivers' wages. On Thursday morning, bin workers on the picket line at the city's depot in Tyseley allowed trucks manned by agency staff to there was a queue of lorries waiting to leave at about 06:45 BST, as those on strike spent several minutes talking to each crew, explaining why they were on 40 bin workers were on the picket line, with most gathered on the opposite side of the BBC's Bob Hockenhull said there was one police car on site, and described the atmosphere as "good humoured". "There is no threats, no intimidation, we are happy to talk to the agency staff in the wagons," said Steve, who was on the picket line in Tyseley."But if they don't want, they're free to drive straight out. "It's their choice to stop and talk or drive straight through."Another striking bin worker, Wayne Bishop, added: "It's starting to hit my bank balance and I'm glad I've got strong family and friends to help me if need be." Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
The Independent
6 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Junior doctors seeking almost 30% pay rise to avoid more strike action
Doctors in England are demanding a massive 29 per cent pay uplift to end the ongoing cycle of strikes that has caused 'so much harm to patients and the wider healthcare system'. Resident doctors in England, formerly known as junior doctors, have started receiving ballots for renewed industrial action following criticism of the government's recent pay rise offer. The fresh demands will pile further pressure on the chancellor ahead of next week's spending review. Rachel Reeves is facing mounting questions over whether or not she will be able to stick to her fiscal rules – restrictions the government sets itself to constrain its own decisions on spending and taxes – amid mounting spending demands. Adding to the pressure, on Wednesday it emerged that police chiefs and MI5 have called for the government to give them more funding following the latest plans to release prisoners early. The heads of the Metropolitan Police, MI5 and the National Crime Agency were among those who warned that plans to release prisoners early could be 'of net detriment to public safety' in a letter to the Ministry of Justice, seen by The Times. They argued they would need the 'necessary resources' in the upcoming spending review to deal with the plan's impacts and maintain order. The pay demands from resident doctors come after ministers last week announced that most doctors would receive a 4 per cent pay rise following the latest review of public sector pay, with resident doctors to receive an extra £750 on top of the uplift. But the British Medical Association (BMA), the union representing doctors, said the pay rise does not go far enough in restoring historical pay freezes, on Tuesday sending out ballots for industrial action. The ballot closes on July 7, and if doctors vote for action then a mandate would last between July and January next year. Co-chairs of the resident doctors committee urged doctors to vote for strike action, but said the door remains open for the government to come through with a solution. It comes after the health secretary, writing exclusively in The Independent, admitted the NHS treats doctors 'like crap' but urged medics not to strike in the latest row about pay. Mr Streeting has warned that industrial action would push back the progress made on reducing waiting lists and should be a last resort. 'The NHS is finally on the road to recovery. I am urging resident doctors today: don't set this progress back. 'Strikes should always be a last resort, and three above-inflation pay rises in a row means we are far from that. Instead, let's keep pulling towards recovery', he wrote. Last year, resident doctors took 44 days of industrial action between March 2023 and July 2024, which was brought to an end when Wes Streeting handed them a 22 per cent pay rise. And this year, they were awarded another inflation-busting pay rise of 5.4 per cent. But warning that 'fixing pay' for doctors 'cannot wait for different fiscal circumstances', they have now asked for their pay to be restored to 2008 levels, which they argue would require a 28.7 per cent rise when taking inflation into account. Dr Melissa Ryan and Dr Ross Nieuwoudt said: 'Last week the government finally told us what it would do to restore the pay of doctors: almost nothing. 'Doctors have seen their pay decline by 23 per cent in real terms since 2008. No doctor today is worth less than they were then, but at the rate the Government is offering it would be over a decade before we once again reached that level of pay. 'As ballots once again fall through doctors' letterboxes, we are simply saying: the NHS does not have that time. Waiting lists are too high, too many people can't see their GP, too many patients are being treated in corridors. 'Doctors need to be kept in the country and in their career not in 10 or 20 years' time, but now.' Urging doctors to vote for strike action, they added: 'By voting yes they will be telling the government there is no alternative to fixing pay – this cannot wait for different fiscal circumstances and a healthier NHS. The answer is to fix it today.' The increase that was recommended by the independent pay review body is above the rate of inflation, which jumped to 3.5 per cent in April, up from 2.6 per cent in March and the highest since January 2024. But Professor Philip Banfield, the BMA's chairman of council, warned that doctors' pay is 'still around a quarter less than it was in real terms 16 years ago', adding that the pay award 'delays pay restoration even more, without a government plan or reassurance to correct this erosion of what a doctor is worth.'
