Strikes in December

British civil servants, including border guards, will go on strike in December as part of a fight for higher wages and better working conditions. It is said in a statement from the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), which unites about 200,000 civil servants and employees of private companies working on government contracts.

The idea of strikes was supported by 86.2 per cent of union members, "the highest proportion in the union's history", it said. PCS is demanding "a 10% increase in wages, fairness in pensions, labour guarantees and no change in dismissal conditions". The union had earlier reported that the government was considering plans to lay off 91,000 civil servants over the next three years.

During and before the Christmas break in December, border staff at airports and ports and staff in all transport services, including those responsible for issuing car licences, will temporarily stop doing their jobs.

PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said the action would affect driving tests and the issuing of driving licences, as well as passport controls at airports.

It is worth noting that more strikes will be announced next month.

This year in the UK, members of several professions have called for mass protests to bring their pay in line with rising prices. According to official figures, inflation in October was 11.1%, the highest in 40 years. Workers on the railways, London Underground, bus drivers in the capital, criminal defence lawyers, employees of the post office and the major container port of Philistow went on strike en masse.