Strikes, though designed to be disruptive and a break from the norm, have ironically become something of a familiar occurrence across the country of late.
With action affecting everything from the railways to the nurses, higher education staff to barristers, unions across many industries are rallying for fairer pay in the face of the cost of living crisis and rising inflation rates.
PM Rishi Sunak invited union leaders in for crunch talks late last week, but planned action will still go ahead.
Who is on strike this week?
DVSA
Members from the DVLA (Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency) DVSA (Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency) and RPA (Rural Payments Agency) will all be taking part in industrial action between January 9 and 13.
Today, January 9, driving examiners in London, the South East, South Wales and the South West are walking out.
Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) workers who are part of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union have been striking since December.
Learning drivers are being urged to check if their practical test has been cancelled or rescheduled as transport workers join other civil servants in a series of strikes. If the DVSA hasn’t contacted you, the agency recommends you still go to your appointment as normal.
Meanwhile, PCS members working in the Rural Payments Agency Customer Service Centre will be striking too.
Their jobs are to answer calls from members of the rural communities and the general public for the RPA on farm subsidies, payments for other rural businesses and other topics like the Pet Travel Scheme.
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Buses
On Tuesday, January 10 and Thursday, January 12, Abellio bus services in London will see further strikes.
They have staged multiple walkouts in December 2022 and earlier dates in January over a pay dispute, and more are planned this month.
Which buses routes are affected by the strikes?
TfL has said that the following daytime routes will be affected by strike action:
- 3
- 27
- 45
- 63
- 68
- 109
- 130
- 156
- 195
- 196
- 201
- 207
- 267
- 270
- 278
- 315
- 322
- 350
- 367
- 381
- 407
- 415
- 427
- 433
- 464
- 482
- 490
- 969
- C10
- E5
- E7
- E10
- E11
- H20
- H25
- H28
- H26
- P5
- P13
- R68
- R70
- S4
- U5
- U7
- U9
The night routes to be affected are:
- N3
- N27
- N63
- N68
- N109
- N207
- N381
Finally, the 24-hour routes set to be disrupted by strike action are:
Of the Abellio dispute specifically, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said on December 20: ‘Abellio is content to horde mountains of cash but has imposed a completely unacceptable pay offer on its drivers.
‘It is disgraceful behaviour and our members are rightly furious.
‘Unite always fights to defend and improve members’ jobs, pay and conditions and Abellio’s South and West London workforce have their union’s unflinching support.’
Elizabeth Line
More chaos is expected for people travelling in, through or around London this week as the Elizabeth Line will see a strike on Thursday, January 12.
On Thursday 12 January, there will be no service between London Paddington and Abbey Wood – with a reduced service on the rest of the Elizabeth line network.
It involves staff at Rail for London (Infrastructure) Limited (RfLI), with the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA) saying the walkouts ‘are highly likely to being the Elizabeth Line to a halt’.
The TSSA added that ‘action short of a strike’ – which dictates that staff will only work contracted hours, take breaks and provide cover – will run from Thursday, January 12 until Tuesday, February 28.
Details on how the action could affect travel during this time are yet to be revealed.
Ambulance
Ambulance workers at Unison are already walking out later this month (January 23), but they will be staging action with GMB union on Wednesday, January 11.
The areas due to be affected are London, Yorkshire, the North West, North East and South West, with paramedics and 999 call handlers due to strike with both Unison and GMB unions to take industrial action this month.
Teachers in Scotland
Primary and secondary school teachers in Scotland are striking in a dispute over pay.
Primary school teachers who are members of the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) will walk out on Tuesday, January 10.
Secondary school teachers will strike on Wednesday, January 11.
Both dates will be joined by NASUWT, the Teachers’ Union members, with Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association (SSTA) union members also striking on January 11.
MORE : Schools will close for several days over next two months if teachers strike
MORE : Can you be fired for striking? Your employment rights explained
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