The United Kingdom is facing nationwide paralysis as its biggest rail strike in thirty years is set to begin.
Last minute talks between unions and the government failed – meaning a whole week where millions face the prospect of limited to no rail transport.
England, Scotland and Wales are set to face ‘transport misery’ according to the UK’s transport secretary.
40,000 rail workers nationwide are walking out of the job on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
Passengers commuters across the country are being advised not to travel unless its absolutely necessary.
With normally 20,000 rail services being cut down to just 4,500 across Britain, this is the biggest rail strike the UK has seen in three decades
The Government is blaming Union leaders for resisting technological change and for demanding more money than is warranted.
Unions are saying that the ongoing inflation, job cuts, pay rises not keeping up increases in the cost of living and safety being disregarded are all factors.
These strikes have been nicknamed the Summer of Discontent
For anyone caught up in the strikes this week – what can they do?
The government is urging everybody not to travel unless they absolutely have to.
The last few years with the pandemic taught us that many people actually can work form home quite well.
Many people will have the option working from home, so in some ways, certain aspects of this strike won’t be as bad as previously anticipated.
But not everyone has the luxury of working from home – essential services, hospitality, tourism, hospital and emergency staff.
This will be a tale of the cans and the cannots when it comes to avoiding the pandemic
Travel (airports) Tourists – London alone is set to lose millions in tourists and sightseers.
And of course, the famous Glastonbury festival – which usually attracts several hundred thousand festivalgoers starts in a few days this week, where half of all trains to and from glastonbury are completely cancelled.
