The UK faces another wave of industrial strikes in a year of continued balloting from number of industries over pay and working conditions.
New strikes or ballots have been regularly announced as workers across the country demand pay rises to keep up with rapidly rising inflation and cost-of-living.
More strikes are being announced as we head into winter amid worsening industrial relations and accusations from union officials that the Government is doing little or nothing to help workers struggling with soaring bills.
Postal workers have announced a fresh wave of strikes in the run up to the busy Christmas period. Nurses and teachers have begun balloting on whether to strike in the near future.
300,000 members of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) will start voting next month on whether to strike over pay in what is being described as a "defining moment" for the profession
PA
The potential of nurses striking has caused a lot of commotion in particular with many people fearing the consequences of losing key healthcare workers. It has been reported that 300,000 of Royal College of Nursing members are balloting. This is the first ballot in the unions 106 year history.
The RCN is campaigning for a rise of five percent above inflation which currently stands 10.1 percent.
Here are details of just some of the strikes and potential disputes taking place over the coming weeks:
– October 13: Postal workers have begun a new strike over pay and conditions, with 19 further days of strike action in the coming weeks.
– October 21: A GMB ballot of 100,000 local government workers closes.
– November 2: A strike ballot of Royal College of Nursing members closes.
– November 11: A strike ballot of sixth-form teachers over a pay dispute closes.
– November 11: A strike ballot of Royal College of Midwives members opens.
– Date TBC: Strike ballots of GMB union members in all 10 ambulance trusts in England will be held.
Postal workers
James Manning