British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Sunday slammed trade unions and accused them of unleashing a “class war” as railway workers, healthcare workers, and border security staff go on strikes demanding better pay and working conditions. Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats are accusing the government of using “scare tactics” to suppress the workers going on strikes.
The public workers on strike are demanding a rise in their salaries to keep up with the rising prices. However, the government said it would be too expensive. The government has made repeated warnings that giving in to union demands for pay rises will kick Britain into an “inflation spiral”, which in turn would hit the poorest the hardest.
Cabinet minister Oliver Dowden appeared on a programme on the BBC on Sunday and said it would not be responsible to increase wages in line with inflation. Speaking on the strikes and planned walkouts, he said, “We will be resolute in response to this because it will be irresponsible to allow public sector pay and inflation to get out of control and we owe a wider duty to the public to make sure we keep our public finances under control.”
In response to Dowden’s comment, Liberal Democrat Cabinet Office spokesperson Christine Jardine said, “In the week before Christmas we need more humanity, not less from Oliver Dowden and his government.” She added that holding a discussion with the striking workers should be the government’s move and said, “Instead he spent this morning playing scare tactics with the public and playing politics with the strikes.”
According to a report by The Independent, an estimated 10,000 NHS nurses in England, Wales and Northern Ireland plan to walk out again on Tuesday after staging strikes on Thursday.
Two strikes have been planned by the ambulance staff in England and Wales on Wednesday and on 28 December. Meanwhile, the Border Force staff working in passport control are also walking out in periods over Christmas.
Rail strikes are affecting train services across much of the holiday period.
To cover for the striking workers, the government announced plans to use around 1,200 troops so key services can keep going.
Writing in “The Sun on Sunday”, Rishi Sunak said the trade unions are causing misery for millions with “particularly cruelly timed” strikes over the Christmas holiday period. He also hit out at the Opposition and said, “Even Labour have admitted the unions’ demands are unaffordable. But they’ll still take union money and undermine the interests of the travelling public. Labour back the Grinches that want to steal Christmas for their own political ends. We are doing everything we can to ensure people get the Christmas they deserve.”
