Several sectors are striking for a pay rise at the moment. The salaries of transport and key workers has been a common point of discussion in recent years. Many employees feel that they lack the proper resources to live comfortably. Due to the rise in inflation rates as well as the increasing living costs, what was once viewed as a reasonable wage.
Cause of the issue
The main dilemma is that employers don’t have the funds to pay their employees the wages they deserve. Most notably, the emergence of Covid-19 and problems associated with Brexit have created financial unrest for businesses. Many employees are being made redundant due to a lack of money. This is something that both workers under the education and health care sectors have become accustomed to.
RMT members striking for a pay rise
Recently, the media has been covering strikes by RMT and the National Union of Railway, Maritime and Transport Union. The media is reporting that thousands of union members strike for a 7% increase in pay. The strike lasted for 4 days in June 2022.
The inflation rate is at a high of 9%, the highest it has been in 40 years, according to the Office of National Statistics. This means that an RMT worker earning an annual figure of around £35,000 might struggle financially. This is especially true for those employees living in inner city areas such as London or Manchester.
Network Rail attempted to resolving the demands of those striking for a pay rise by offering an initial 2% pay rise with an added 1% in the following year. Some saw this as an improvement but it is 4% less than the 7% increase that the unions demanded. Network Rail’s explanation for their inability to meet the members’ demands is that peoples’ jobs would be lost to maintain salaries in real terms for other employees. The RMT has described what they see as the ‘aggressive agenda’ of job cuts over the last few years.
Then we read that in late August 2022, staff from three more transport operators have voted to strike.
Previous strikes and the threat of further industrial action
This is not the first time that workers have raised issues over the lack of pay or extensive job cuts. In previous months, P&O faced legal action after 800 workers were left unemployed suddenly (with pay in lieu of notice). Elsewhere, the Post Office is dealing with employees who are striking for a pay rise. With tensions already high, the country could see a sharp increase in strikes from other key workers. For instance, the National Education Union has also threatened industrial action if teachers’ pay is not increased to match inflation.
Conclusion
With the threat of further industrial action looming, issues relating to employees striking for a pay rise are taking a prominent stance in the media.
Image used under CC courtesy of MN AFL-CIO