As teacher ballot results are announced, strikes in Britain will intensify

By William James

LONDON (Reuters] – The strikes that have been disrupting large swathes in the British economy are likely to intensify this week. According to Sunday Times, teachers are ready to declare industrial action and nurses warn their strikes could double next month.

Prime Minister Rishi Sonak’s government sets the pay levels for public-funded education and health services. As wages rise, strike action in rail and other industries is underway.

At 1700 GMT Monday, teachers affiliated to the National Education Union are due to vote. However the Sunday Times quoted union sources saying that members from England and Wales voted to support strikes that began in February.

The union did not respond immediately to a request to comment on the report. Last week, a strike ballot from a different teachers union was not enough to meet the required turnout threshold.

Teacher strikes that are confirmed Monday will add to disruptions experienced by millions of Brits over the last six month, when train strikes have crippled transport networks. Ambulance workers have also refused to respond to calls on two separate dates.

Sky News’ Mark Harper, Transport Minister, stated Sunday that any strike by teachers would be regrettable.

With inflation at over 10%, partly due to sharp increases in energy prices following Russia’s invasion Ukraine, the government said it couldn’t afford major wage increases and that it didn’t want to encourage higher inflation through pay increases.

Harper stated that he gave permission to rail companies to offer a new deal to unions. This offered tentative signs that a deal might be in the works, but he did not give any timeline.

The disruption was expected to continue elsewhere.

Some members of the Royal College of Nursing walked out last month, and they will again do so on Wednesday and Thursday. They warned that their next round of strikes could prove more severe with twice as many nurses in England expected to walk out in February unless there is a solution.

(Reporting By William James. Editing by Jane Merriman