Workers strike

The summer of travel chaos wrought by rail strikes is far from over, as Britain prepares for the latest 24-hour industrial action on Saturday, August 13, as train drivers’ union Aslef stages a walkout. The industrial action is likely to cause disruption into the morning of Sunday, August 14, with the following lines affected: Avanti West Coast, Arriva Rail London, CrossCountry, Great Western Railway, LNER, Greater Anglia, London Overground, Southeastern, Hull Trains and West Midlands Trains. Aslef is striking over drivers’ pay, with general secretary Mick Whelan saying: “Many of our members – who were the men and women who moved key workers and goods around the country during the pandemic – have not had a pay rise since 2019.” Steve Montgomery, chair of the Rail Delivery Group, said: “The Aslef leadership has for the second time in as many weeks, decided to impose yet more uncertainty for passengers and businesses by disrupting passengers’ weekend plans. “We call on Aslef to … [Read more...] about Train strike dates: Full list of rail and Tube walkouts for August

Teachers could take strike action in the autumn as overwhelming anger mounts over plans for a 5% pay rise. Teaching union NASUWT, which is calling for a 12% increase, warned it is committed to balloting members for industrial action in the autumn if the proposed pay deal remains unchanged. Some 70% of 9,000 teachers in England and 80% of 700 surveyed in Wales said the current proposal should be dismissed as unacceptable. NASUWT general secretary, Dr Patrick Roach, said members had been clear in demanding the below-inflation pay award is rejected. The offer is ‘yet another pay cut for teachers’ which will inflict ‘greater damage to the morale of the profession’, he said. ‘The Government’s proposals fall way short of what teachers are demanding, following a decade of real terms pay cuts and the current cost-of-living crisis,’ Dr Roach warned. ‘Ministers have refused to respond to our calls for proper negotiations and, once again, we are calling on ministers to get … [Read more...] about Teachers could be next to strike as Britain’s summer of content deepens

Britain’s summer of discontent is set to continue after workers at the country’s biggest ports announced an eight day walkout over pay. Nearly 1,900 workers at Felixstowe Port in Suffolk will stop work on August 21, a move expected to impact 40% of the UK’s container imports. The industrial action encompasses staff who drive cranes and operate machinery, with operations expected to grind to a near halt. The strike at Felixstowe was called after the Unite trade union said the port failed to improve its offer of a 7% pay increase. A Department for Transport spokesman said: ‘This action by the union runs the risk of disrupting the delivery of vital supplies and freight, and we urge the union and port to remain at the table and agree a settlement.’ It’s not the first time there has been disruption at the port. Last autumn, there was a backlog of containers due to a lack of lorry drivers which led to shortages of some gifts and food for Christmas. Bobby Morton, … [Read more...] about Fears of return to empty shelves after staff at UK’s biggest port vote to strike

Few commuters will forget the chaos on UK railways caused by the June 2022 train strikes . Over three days, some 40,000 workers with the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union walked out in a dispute over pay freezes and job conditions with Network Rail. It was the biggest train strike for a generation in the UK, where employees have the right to strike over issues such as pay and job losses, as part of a properly-organised union. Many will be wondering whether more strikes are to come this summer and later in 2022. Not just on the rail, either – as postal workers, airline staff and even criminal barristers take action. Here are the industries which are, or could potentially, face strikes this year, and all the latest updates. Which industries could strike in 2022? Trains and railways Is a strike on the cards? Yes What’s happening? Due to a continued pay dispute, RMT workers are set to strike again later o n W e d n e s d a … [Read more...] about What strikes could be happening in 2022? Industries, dates, and what’s been said

Published 7 hours ago Share close Share page Copy link About sharing Pay talks between ScotRail and transport union representatives have broken down. Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union (RMT) rejected a 5% pay offer from the company last Thursday . The offer was similar to a deal accepted by train drivers in July, ending a dispute where 700 services were cancelled for almost two months. It is now thought that RMT members will be balloted on possible strike action. RMT members, who include ticket examiners, conductors and station staff, voted against the ScotRail deal by 60% to 40%. Rail union to ballot over 'derisory' pay offer ScotRail train drivers accept pay increase ScotRail said it had tabled a further improved offer of a £300 payment for full-time staff and pro-rata for part-time staff "as recognition of the need to use technology like … [Read more...] about Breakdown in talks over ScotRail workers’ pay

Crimea: Drivers caught in huge traffic jam as they try to flee SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info Major General Chip Chapman said Tuesday’s Ukrainian attack on the air base in Russian -controlled Crimea represented a “crucial” achievement for Ukrainian forces. He explained the strike is an incident Vladimir Putin cannot "propagandise at home”. The Ukrainian attack on the base has been denied by Moscow, which claimed the explosions were detonations of stored ammunition and not the result of any Ukrainian attack. Related articles Putin ally could launch nuclear strikes on THREE countries Ukraine slams Russia’s ‘ineffective’ weaponry Mr Chapman told Times Radio: “The crucial thing yesterday was … [Read more...] about Putin humiliated as Ukraine’s Crimea strike hammer blow ‘Frightened life out of Russians’

Russians flee airbase under Ukrainian artillery fire in February SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info Video footage recorded by scared Russian holidaymakers showed long streams of gridlocked traffic heading from the occupied territory towards Russia . Ukrainian defence forces are believed to have launched an attack on a Russian airbase located in Saki, the first such attack successfully carried out since the annexation of Crimea in 2014. The reaction of the terrified tourists, who were filmed observing in abject horror the aftermath of the strike, sparked speculation on whether Vladimir Putin 's propaganda machine will be able to maintain its claims that no war is happening in Ukraine . Related articles Russian … [Read more...] about ‘Will they finally understand?’ Tearful Russian tourists flee Crimea after missile strike

Crimea: Drivers caught in huge traffic jam as they try to flee SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky 's military adviser, Kyiv could be reading to launch more strikes in the region after it emerged that a special forces unit carried out an explosive raid on the Russian base in the area. Related articles Putin ally could launch nuclear strikes on THREE countries Ukraine slams Russia’s ‘ineffective’ weaponry One person was killed on Tuesday when a Russian air base near seaside resorts in the annexed Crimean peninsula was rocked by blasts that Moscow said were detonations of stored ammunition, not the result of any attack. Witnesses said they had … [Read more...] about Zelensky’s forces set to launch more devastating strikes on Crimea ‘in coming days’

UK authorities have charged a suspected member of a so-called Islamic State (IS) hostage-taking cell with terrorism offences. Aine Davis was arrested at Luton Airport on Wednesday night after being deported from Turkey. The 38-year-old is believed to be one of the IS militants dubbed “The Beatles” due to their British accents. The cell is accused of holding and torturing several Western hostages when IS controlled a large swath of Syria and Iraq last decade. Several of their captives were beheaded, including American journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff and British aid workers David Haines and Alan Henning. Davis has been indicted under the Terrorism Act, the Metropolitan Police said on Thursday. The UK's Crown Prosecution Service said the charges relate to terrorism offences in 2014 and possession of a firearm for a purpose connected with terrorism. Davis was arrested in Turkey in 2015 and convicted in 2017 of belonging to the IS group. During his trial … [Read more...] about Alleged member of IS ‘Beatles’ cell charged with terrorism

The US Justice Department charged two British militants from the so-called Islamic State (IS) on Wednesday, accusing them of carrying out a gruesome campaign of torture, beheadings and other acts of violence against Western hostages they had captured in Syria, including four Americans. El Shafee Elsheikh and Alexanda Kotey are two of four men dubbed "the Beatles" by the hostages they held captive because of their British accents. They are expected to make their first appearance in the afternoon in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia, where a federal grand jury issued an eight-count indictment. The charges are a milestone in a years-long effort by US authorities to bring to justice members of the group known for beheadings and barbaric treatment of aid workers, journalists and other hostages in Syria. The men's arrival in the US sets the stage for arguably the most sensational terrorism trial since the 2014 criminal case against the suspected ringleader of a deadly attack on the … [Read more...] about US charges British IS members in deaths of Western hostages