UK braced for Christmas chaos as thousands of workers strike
THE UK is braced for Christmas chaos as thousands of workers launch a wave of strikes set to hit postal services, rail companies and airlines.
Up to 3,000 staff at Crown post offices across the nation are to strike, today (Monday December 19), tomorrow and on Saturday in a dispute over pension changes, job security and closures.
Those workers will be joined on Wednesday and Thursday by others who supply many sub-post offices with cash.
Kevin Gilliland, Post Office group network and sales director, said on the BBC fewer than 300 branches would be affected, with “business as usual in almost all of our network”.
And there are fears also the strikes could escalate if unofficial action is taken by Royal Mail workers who refuse to cross picket lines.
A Royal Mail spokesman said: “There will be little or no impact on Royal Mail as a result of the CWU strike at the Post Office. Deliveries will carry on as normal and the last posting dates for Christmas remain unchanged.”
RMT members at Southern Railway meanwhile will strike today and tomorrow in a dispute over the role of conductors, and an overtime ban by ASLEF drivers looks set to affect its 300,000 passengers.
RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “Our conductor members on Southern are on strike this week in defence of the safety of the travelling public and that remains the focus of the entire union.”
Southern has been accused of cancelling trains and blaming industrial action even though drivers were available, for the second consecutive weekend. The company has denied Aslef’s claim.
Elsewhere, British Airways cabin crew belonging to the Unite union are due to strike on Christmas Day and Boxing Day in a row over pay.
Talks aimed at averting the strike are due to be held today at the conciliation service ACAS.
Unite members employed by Swissport as baggage handlers and other ground staff at 18 airports across the UK are set to walk out on Friday and Saturday over pay, although talks will also be held at Acas on Tuesday.
A Manchester Airports Group spokesman said: “We are aware of this potential action and are contacting the airlines which use Swissport to understand their contingency plans to minimise any disruption were the strikes to go ahead.”
