(London) British rail is almost at a standstill on Saturday after the main rail unions decided on another day of collective mobilization, the biggest strike of the year, to demand higher wages in the face of record inflation. .
Posted at 9:22
This is the first time this year that four transport unions – RMT, Unite, Aslef, TSSA – have coordinated for a common day of action. Only 11% of trains will run in the country, with many regions without any service.
Apologizing to users on the BBC for the expected disruption, RMT general secretary Mick Lynch justified the strike: “the government has caused this conflict” by proposing “to cut our jobs, cut our pensions and cut our wages in the face of inflation. »
British households are facing inflation of almost 10% and are worried about whether they will be able to warm themselves or pay their mortgages this winter. Despite the announcement of a freeze on energy price ceilings, prices have doubled in one year and the government, in office for less than a month, is more unpopular than ever.
The strike is likely to disrupt the visit of Arsenal and Tottenham fans to London on the day of the derby between the two north London soccer clubs. It also comes on the eve of the launch in Birmingham of the annual congress of the conservative party and while the London marathon takes place on Sunday, which attracts tens of thousands of people to the British capital.
Railway workers, but also longshoremen, postal workers, criminal lawyers or garbage collectors have multiplied strikes since June to demand salary increases in the face of the cost of living crisis.
Several unions, notably representing railway workers, had announced a truce in their mobilization after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, but the movements have since resumed with a vengeance.
Further train and underground strikes in London are scheduled for next week.