Boxing Day strikes

Strikes by British railway workers have forced thousands of people in the United Kingdom to change their plans over the Christmas period and cancel visits to friends and family. This was reported by The Guardian newspaper on Monday.

The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport RMT is holding strikes at the height of the country's Christmas celebrations between 6 p.m. December 24 and 05:59 a.m. December 27.

The union's main demand is for higher wages, no redundancies and no worsening of working conditions. Negotiations with Network Rail, which is responsible for maintaining much of Britain's rail infrastructure, have not resolved the dispute.

Disruption was also expected for people travelling to and from airports that do not serve the Stansted Express on Boxing Day.

The publication noted that UK residents who had planned to travel to Stansted Airport near London on express trains faced problems on Monday, in particular. Eurostar also announced the cancellation of trains from London to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam due to strikes.

However, bus operators National Express and Megabus, on the other hand, reported a sharp increase in customers. The Automobile Association (AA) added that over 15 million cars are expected to be on British roads on Monday: traditionally, on December 26, many Britons take part in Christmas sales or attend football matches, which do not cease over the festive period.

Also, RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: "Until the government gives the rail industry a mandate to reach a negotiated settlement on job security, pay and working conditions, our industrial campaign will continue."

It is worth noting that the UK in December was gripped by a wave of strikes amid a sharp rise in inflation it was a record high of almost 40 years, 10.7%, and a drop in real incomes. In addition to railway workers, they include border guards, nurses, ambulance drivers, driving test officials and postmen.