Tuesday 28 June 2022 06:33 PM Strikes: Firefighters and post workers threaten to join Summer of Discontent ... trends now
Britain is spiralling further towards a national strike today after firefighters threatened to walk out in what would be their first industrial action for approaching 20 years.
More than 115,000 Royal Mail workers also started voting this morning on whether to strike in a dispute over pay in action that would likely shut down the postal service.
Swathes of the public sector have demanded inflation-plus pay rises of up to 30 per cent - and threatened strikes that could wreck the summer and run through to Christmas if their wishes are not met.
The leader of the firefighters' union is warning of the first strikes since 2003 after reacting angrily to a two per cent pay offer. The executive of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) is recommending rejection of the offer, which it said is well below the soaring rate of inflation. Between 2009 and 2021, firefighters' real pay has been cut by 12 per cent, or nearly £4,000, the FBU said.
The Communication Workers Union is demanding that Royal Mail Group negotiates with them to secure a 'straight, no-strings' pay increase for employees.
The union said management intends to impose a 2% pay rise which will be a 'dramatic real-terms wage cut' because of soaring inflation. Royal Mail claims that they offered a deal worth up to 5.5%.
The news will compound fears that Britain is facing a summer of strikes as unions representing other professions also flex their muscles in pursuit of inflation-busting pay rises.
Here are the areas of the public sector threatening to strike and what they are demanding:
FIREFIGHTERS
What pay rise do they want?
Not yet clear. But the the Fire Brigades Union has rejected a two per cent pay offer because it is not near the 9.1 per cent rate of inflation.
What is their average pay?
A trainee firefighter earns £24,191 a year. A senior firefighter's salary is £32,244.
When could they strike?
No ballot has been held yet
What are the implications of strike?
Strikes by firefighters are exceptionally rare.
If a strike goes ahead, engines will be deployed at strategic locations across the UK to provide fire cover.
The contingency fire service will be provided by a contractor, supplying basic firefighting and some rescue work. If there was a very serious incident, firefighters could choose to abandon their strike temporarily
The FBU last organised a national strike in 2003. The last one before that since the 1970s.
It began when the FBU voted to take strike action in an attempt to secure a better salary. The FBU demanded a 39 percent increase in pay. It ended in June 2003, with the firefighters accepting a pay deal worth 16 per cent over three years.
Between 2009 and 2021, firefighters' real pay has been cut by 12%, or nearly £4,000, the FBU said today, as they urged members to reject a 2% pay offer.
Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary said: 'This is utterly inadequate and would deliver a further cut in real wages to firefighters in all roles in the midst of the cost-of-living crisis.
'This latest insulting proposal follows 12 years of government-imposed reductions in real wages.
'This proposal will anger firefighters, those working in emergency fire controls, and those in all uniformed roles in fire services across the UK.
'Our members will now begin to discuss this offer and the executive council will reconvene shortly to discuss our next steps. We will now consider all options, including strike action.'
RAIL STAFF
EUSTON STATION: RMT Union boss Mick Lynch on the picket as he vowed to shut down transport in every town and city over pay last week
What pay rise do they want?
The RMT has demanded a rise of at least 7 per cent for its members, while Network Rail is offering just 3 per cent.
What is their average pay?
Train drivers have a median salary of £59,000 - which is around £5,000 more than an average solicitor or a major in the army earns.
Rail workers in general earn £44,000 on average according to the government, which is higher than teachers (£41,800), the navy (£36,666), and an army sergeant (£35,853).
The RMT claims that this figure is not representative of those striking as most drivers who earn the most are not on the picket line, while low-paid staff like cleaners are.
It said the median salary of those protesting is £33,000 - but that is still over 25 per cent higher than the median annual pay of UK workers (£25,971) and nearly double a care worker's average pay (£17,000).
When could they strike?
There was a major strike last week. The RMT Union led by Mick Lynch has vowed to strike repeatedly until the end of the year after a vote by members. They would only have to give a fortnight's notice.
What are the implications of strikes?
Millions were forced to work from home, take to their cars or struggle into the office after strikes shut down the Tube and railways. Three days of strikes caused six days of disruption.
Rail sources said the financial damage done to the industry by last week's strikes had exceeded £100million – enough to afford a 5.7 per cent pay rise for each RMT worker.
Hospitality experts claimed that pubs and restaurants in cities may have lost more than £540million in sales last week.
DOCTORS AND NURSES
Junior doctors have already threatened to strike this year over pay in echoes of the 2016 industrial dispute which saw them walk off the job multiple times in 2016 (pictured)
What pay rise do they want?
Doctors have threatened to strike unless they get a pay rise of up to 30 per cent. Nurses, meanwhile, want a rise of more than 12 per cent.
The Government has offered NHS staff a 3% pay rise last year and in 2022.
What is their average pay?
Currently, junior doctor starter salaries range from £29,384 to £34,012, while specialist doctors are paid between £50,373 and £91,484. The BMA motion covers all doctors, including consultants, who earn an average of £120,000 a year and GPs, who earn an average of £100,000.
The average pay for a registered nurse is £25,858.
When could they strike?
No ballot has taken yet. strike action amongst doctors and nurses is almost unprecedented. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has not staged UK-wide industrial action since its foundation in 1916. But other healthcare unions such as such as Unison, GMB and Unite have held strikes in 1988, 2014, 2015 and 2016 over pay.
What are the implications of strikes?
The impact on the NHS would be huge leading to people having appointments and operations cancelled. Emergency care would continue.
ROYAL MAIL STAFF
What pay rise do they want?
According to the Communication Workers' Union said management intends to impose a 2% pay rise
