Various groups of workers in Britain have moved to a nationwide strike. Railways (including underground railways) and transport bus workers, lawyers, port workers, teachers, nurses, firemen, garbage collection workers, airport workers and postal workers are on nationwide strike.
The UK is one of the leading countries for trade unions and protests. At one time communist-left movements were active in that country among the workers. The Marxist teacher Karel Max stayed there for the longest time. Various labor unions were organized in Britain under his leadership. The first industrial revolution in the world took place in Britain. Similarly, it was in that country that ideas about workers and labor unions first arose and organized workers first appeared.
The Conservative Party (Tory) is currently in power in Britain. The opposition Labor Party is a powerful party along with the Conservative Party. Under the leadership of the Labor Party, trade unions are working in all sectors of the country.
Trade unions and their national federations are universal in Britain. A large number of trade unions are functioning there under the leadership of democratic parties, socialist parties and communist-left movements. Trade unions and leaders enjoy a degree of respect in Britain that is not available in many other countries. In British democracy, mass organizations including trade unions are allowed freedom of action.
The government is discussing essential matters with these people. But various working groups in Britain have moved towards a nationwide strike. Railways (including underground railways) and transport bus workers, lawyers, port workers, teachers, nurses, firemen, garbage collection workers, airport workers and postal workers are on nationwide strike.
London’s public transport has been brought to a standstill by rail and bus workers on strike demanding pay rises and other services. Tens of thousands of workers from the national rail network took part in the strike.
Unions demanded a pay hike amid rising cost of living due to inflation. The unions accused the railways of waging an ideological war against the workers. The inflation rate in the UK was 10.1 percent last July. The rise in fuel and food prices has severely affected people’s lives. It is a situation where private companies are laying off employees.
But the Tory government in Britain is of the position that the increase in wages will create an impact on the economy.
The railway workers were once again forced to go on a general strike. Due to the strike, only one fifth of the train services were running. The strike affected people’s lives. Nick Lynch, the leader of the Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT) union, says that labor problems are exacerbated by the Conservative government’s anti-labour policies.
People are suffering due to low wages. Following the railway strike, workers on the London Underground train service also went on strike. Due to this, the traffic system came to a standstill. The Rail Maritime and Transport Union said no underground trains would operate through the tubeline. Workers at Britain’s largest container port have also gone on strike as labor unrest continues in the transport sector.
Workers at the port of Felisto in north-east London have started an indefinite strike. Their strike is also demanding wage hike. About half of Britain’s shipping traffic goes through the port of Felisto. 40 lakh containers in 2000 vessels are handled here. But the workers allege that the company is not paying wages commensurate with the rise in prices in the country. They have been away from work for a week.
It has been many years since Britain has reformed employee pay. Apart from the covid crisis, the biggest price hike in 40 years has made common people miserable. The workers have been forced to go on a massive strike as the institutions including the railway operating companies have announced that there will be no increase in wages this year. Many companies are trying to cut costs and lay off workers. The workers have actively come forward against this. The main demands of the employees are wage increase, better working conditions and job security.
The economic crisis, which is the inevitable result of globalization and new economic policies, has begun to eat away at Britain, like the big capitalist countries. Britain has an administration that is akin to American imperialism. Britain is the first to declare its support for all the controversial decisions of the United States, including the wrong West Asian policy. No wonder the Conservative Party’s globalization and imperialist economic policies have compounded Britain’s populist problems.
The opposition Labor Party won the majority of seats in the local government elections in the UK. This is proof that the ruling Tories have lost mass support. The Tories’ over-complication of populist issues has backfired on them at the polls.
Due to the workers’ strike, people have naturally suffered a lot. RMT Union General Secretary Mickey Lynch regretted the inconvenience. He said that when employees are deliberately denied benefits and wages despite giving maximum service, there is no option but to strike. In any case, the biggest financial crisis of this decade is eating away at Britain. There is no doubt that the growth of the Labor Party and the strengthening of labor organizations have increased the strength of the workers there. Taking advantage of these conditions, various sections of workers in the UK have gone on strike. It is hoped that the demands raised by them including wage increase will be accepted and the strike can be ended as soon as possible.
Adv.G. Sugunan
(Writer’s phone number: 9847132428
Email ID : avdgsugunangmail.com)