Those who are planning holidays in Great Britain must improve, because they have to face countless problems at the same time. Thousands of rail and airline workers will strike throughout the holiday season. The British government is warning of the potential for unrest and long lines over the Christmas holidays, as workers at major airports in England, Scotland and Wales plan to strike.
British Home Secretary Soella Braverman warned Thursday that the 3,000 local border guards at the airport are also preparing to strike for eight days over the holidays: from December 23 to 26 and from December 28 to New Year’s Eve. The disruptions are likely to affect passengers arriving in the country rather than departing from it. The disruptions are affecting the UK’s busiest airports: London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff and Glasgow.
Until the government pays
Mark Sirotka, the union’s general secretary, states quite bluntly that the Public Service and Business Services union, which has nearly 200,000 members and is the largest union of British government workers, has warned: “The government can stop these strikes tomorrow if they put money on the table.” Union members are calling for a 10 percent wage increase, and better workplace care and related benefits.
The British government plans to bring in soldiers to do passport control and other duties, though, access is expected to be slower on strike days, so travelers should pack a hefty dose of patience in their hand luggage as well as gifts.
Meanwhile, it is also revealed that train travel will also be chaotic in Great Britain.
Network Rail, which operates most of Britain’s rail network, is warning of a “significant drop in train services” between December 13 and January 8. The UK’s largest rail union has called a strike for eight different days over the festive period: December 13, 14, 16 and 17 and January 3, 4, 6 and 7. The union members also set out to disturb the celebratory mood of the people in order to achieve better pay and working conditions.
The inevitable flight cancellations
National Rail is not sugarcoating the situation: “This is likely to affect most railway companies across Great Britain,” they said in a statement, explaining that “it is inevitable that there will be no major cancellations or disruptions. There will likely be Very limited service these days and that some routes will not have trains at all.”
“Our message to the public is that we are sorry for the inconvenience, but we ask that they direct their anger and frustration at the government and railway employers during this period,” said Mick Lynch, general secretary of the union.
(Cover photo: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)
