Yahoo Finance Royal Mail strike - live: Postal workers hold rally in London as walkout causes delays
Thousands of Royal Mail workers have gathered for a rally in Parliament Square after walking out in the first of a series of strikes in the run-up to Christmas.
The area outside parliament was filled with postal workers in pink fluorescent jackets from the Communication Workers Union, who earlier said 15,000 Royal Mail workers were expected to attend the rally.
CWU claims Royal Mail imposed a 2 per cent pay increase on members without consultation, with general secretary Dave Ward saying that the organisation is “refusing” to treat employees with respect.
"Postal workers want to get on with serving the communities they belong to, delivering Christmas gifts and tackling the backlog from recent weeks,” said Mr Ward.
"But they know their value, and they will not meekly accept the casualisation of their jobs, the destruction of their conditions and the impoverishment of their families.”
Members of the CWU are planning more strikes in December, including on Christmas Eve. The next will take place on Sunday 11 December. The public has been advised to plan ahead when sending packages for Christmas.
It comes amid a winter of strike action in the UK, including walkouts planned by nurses, ambulance staff, rail workers and Border Force officers.
Hello and welcome to our live updates on the postal worker strike action today.
Friday 9 December 2022 10:18 , Eleanor Noyce
Friday 9 December 2022 10:22 , Eleanor Noyce
Today’s Royal Mail strike marks the first in a series this month in the run-up to Christmas.
Further strike action will take place on:
Sunday 11 December
Wednesday 14 December
Thursday 15 December
Friday 23 December
Saturday 24 December.
On strike days, Royal Mail has said that disruptions are likely. Staff will not be delivering letters with the exception of those sent with Special Delivery, but it cannot guarantee they will arrive.
Rishi Sunak declines to provide details of ‘tough’ new anti-strike laws
Friday 9 December 2022 10:47 , Eleanor Noyce
Rishi Sunak has declined to provide details of “tough” new anti-strike laws being considered, stressing that he wants to “protect lives and to minimise the disruption” caused by industrial action.
Speaking during a visit to an RAF base in Lincolnshire, the Prime Minister said: “We’re looking at everything right now at pace but my priority is going to be to protect lives and to minimise the disruption on people’s lives.
“So the Government is trying its best to act reasonably, that’s why we’ve accepted in full the recommendations of independent bodies who make recommendations to the Government about pay settlements in the public sector, and often those pay settlements have been higher than what many people in the private sector are receiving, but the Government accepted them in full to be reasonable, to be fair.
“But it’s right now that we also look to minimise the disruption on people’s lives and that’s why we’re looking at tough new laws.”
Nurses, trains and Royal Mail: Every strike planned in run up to Christmas
Friday 9 December 2022 10:50 , Eleanor Noyce
As inflation has climbed steadily throughout year, workers have seen rising prices eroding their earnings – just as employers have been trying to make savings or modernise working practices to cope with increasing costs.
The result? Clashes over pay, redundancies, pensions and terms and conditions.
A new “winter of discontent” had begun even before Jeremy Hunt’s Autumn Statement on 17 November, which left householders everywhere feeling even worse off.
And with the cost of living crisis set to deepen, the disputes will inevitably grow fiercer.
These are the professions and industries for which strike dates have already been announced.
From nurses to postal workers – every strike planned in run up to Christmas
“If you care about your postie, you’ll support the Royal Mail strike”, says Dave Ward
Friday 9 December 2022 11:10 , Eleanor Noyce
“We won’t stand back and watch the Uberisation of our postal service”, says Dave Ward, general secretary of the Communication Workers Union.
“This week towns and cities across the country have seen postal workers standing on picket lines with their supporters in the wider community.
“For three months now, 115,000 members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) – the union I am proud to lead – have been on strike, having voted by nearly 100 per cent in two separate ballots this summer to take action.”
More here:
Opinion: If you care about your postie, you’ll support the Royal Mail strike
Train strikes: Every date in December and January 2023
Friday 9 December 2022 11:30 , Eleanor Noyce
Rail passengers face severe travel disruption over Christmas and the New Year as workers stage a series of 48-hour strikes in December and January in the long-running dispute over jobs, pay and conditions.
The RMT union has revealed that more than 40,000 workers across Network Rail and 14 train operating companies will stage a series of 48-hour walk-outs.
Industrial action will take place on 13, 14, 16 and 17 December and on 3, 4, 6 and 7 January.
On Monday it announced further strike dates to take place over the key Christmas period, with members walking out from 6pm on 24 December until 7am on 27 December. Most trains do not run on 25 and 26 December anyway, but those aiming to travel by rail to see loved ones either side of Christmas Day will be affected.
Helen Coffey has more:
Every train strike date in December and January 2023
Rishi Sunak confirms military to be used to minimise disruption from strikes
Friday 9 December 2022 11:45 , Eleanor Noyce
The military will be used to minimise disruption from strikes, Rishi Sunak has confirmed.
Mr Sunak today visited the RAF Coningsby base in Lincolnshire to thank personnel for their service in the coming weeks.
He said that the government had acted “fairly and reasonably” in accepting the recommendations of independent pay review bodies on public sector salary increases this year.
Many troops to be drafted in to fill jobs of striking workers over Christmas, says Rishi Sunak
Friday 9 December 2022 11:50 , Eleanor Noyce
Rishi Sunak has confirmed that many military personnel are to be drafted in to prevent disruption during industrial action over Christmas, in a move which has been condemned by union bosses as “strike-breaking”.
In an indication that ministers are losing hope of averting a wave of stoppages over the festive season, Mr Sunak said he would not give in to union demands on pay and was focusing on minimising disruption to day-to-day life.
The prime minister was speaking as the Ministry of Defence confirmed that troops have been training at Heathrow and Gatwick since the start of this week in preparation to man passport booths when Border Force officials walk out.
Political Editor Andrew Woodcock has more:
Many troops to be drafted in to fill jobs of striking workers, says Rishi Sunak
Railway companies responsible for overcrowding on trains during strikes, says Downing Street
Friday 9 December 2022 12:00 , Eleanor Noyce
It is up to railway companies and not the Government to prevent overcrowding on trains on strike days over Christmas, Downing Street has suggested.
A No 10 spokesman told reporters: “I will have to point you to Network Rail, who will obviously work with the train operating companies on the timetables over the Christmas period.
“But the more fundamental point I think the Prime Minister has made on a number of occasions is that we want unions to call off the strikes given we know the level of disruption they’re going to cause, not just for people but for also businesses.”
The official added: “DfT (Department for Transport) will obviously work closely with Network Rail, but it’s for them to devise the timetable.
“We acknowledge there will be disruption to people’s travel plans over the Christmas period. We would urge people to be aware through Network Rail and the other operating companies who are setting out what the timetables will be, what people can expect.”
UK strikes timeline: How December’s industrial action will affect you
Friday 9 December 2022 12:10 , Eleanor Noyce
There is only one day this month – by The Independent’s count – for which there is no major protest demonstration currently scheduled, Saturday 10 December, and that could well change.
Royal Mail says it has “well-developed contingency plans” in place but “cannot fully replace the daily efforts of our frontline workforce,” assuring customers it would be “doing what we can to keep services running” while warning that the strikes are “likely to cause you some disruption”.
Here is a timeline of all of the strike dates announced so far for December 2022 and early January 2023.
Dates of all the strikes happening in December from rail workers to nurses
The one of type of post Royal Mail will be delivering during the strikes
Friday 9 December 2022 12:30 , Eleanor Noyce
The Post Office has said it is not involved in the dispute between CWU and Royal Mail that will result in multiple strikes across December.
However, it stressed that while branches will remain open, there will be disruption to letters and parcel collections on the dates of industrial action.
Around 1,500 CWU Post Office members took action in August and similar numbers are likely to walk out again next time in a dispute that’s separate from the Royal Mail one.
Staff who deliver cash and supplies to sub-post offices, process finances and work in administration have backed industrial action for more pay.
More here:
From nurses to postal workers - every strike likely to affect UK by end of 2022
Royal Mail says you should post earlier than usual this Christmas
Friday 9 December 2022 12:50 , Eleanor Noyce
Royal Mail previously asked customers to post their mail earlier than usual for Christmas this year as a result of the ongoing strike action by its workers.
The company brought forward its recommended posting dates for domestic and international mail to help manage any impact from planned strike action by members of the Communication Workers Union on December 9, 11, 14, 15, 23 and 24.
The changes are designed to help the company keep mail moving in the run up to Christmas when mail volumes are higher.
Final suggested dates for sending second-class post were brought forward from December 19 to 12 and for first class from December 21 to 16.
More here:
Royal Mail says you should post earlier than usual this Christmas
Parliament Square rally begins
Friday 9 December 2022 13:00 , Katy Clifton
Hundreds of postal workers have gathered in Parliament Square to mark the first of a series of strike dates by Royal Mail staff.
Striking postal workers brandish placards reading ‘Save Our Royal Mail’ at Parliament Square rally
Friday 9 December 2022 13:08 , Eleanor Noyce
Members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) are holding a rally in Parliament Square, London, as Royal Mail workers mark another strike in the increasingly bitter dispute over jobs, pay and conditions.
Around 15,000 striking workers are anticipated to attend with postal workers from Scotland travelling down to take part.
Strikes set to escalate in the run-up to Christmas
Friday 9 December 2022 13:10 , Eleanor Noyce
The wave of industrial action across the country is set to escalate in the coming weeks as more workers walk out in disputes over pay, jobs and conditions.
Members of the Royal College of Nursing will strike on Thursday, December 15, the first national stoppage in the union’s 106 year history, while action will also be held by several other groups of workers.
Eurostar security guards, Highways Agency staff, driving examiners and Rural Payments Agency employees will stop work in the coming weeks.
Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union at Network Rail and 14 train operators will stage two 48-hour strikes on December 13/14 and 16/17 which will cripple services. The Transport Salaried Staffs Association and Unite is also planning industrial action among its members on the railways.
Alan Jones has more:
Strikes set to escalate in the run-up to Christmas
Striking postal workers hold coffin reading ‘R.I.P Postman Pat’ at Parliament Square rally
Friday 9 December 2022 13:15 , Eleanor Noyce
Dave Ward (centre), general secretary of the Communication Workers Union (CWU), joins members holding a coffin with the words "RIP Postman Pat" as they gather for a rally in Parliament Square, London, as Royal Mail workers mark another strike in the increasingly bitter dispute over jobs, pay and conditions.
Striking Santa rallies at Royal Mail strike in Parliament Square, London
Friday 9 December 2022 13:18 , Eleanor Noyce
Members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) hold a rally in Parliament Square, London, as Royal Mail workers mark another strike in the increasingly bitter dispute over jobs, pay and conditions.
Demonstrator dresses as Postman Pat at Parliament Square rally
Friday 9 December 2022 13:21 , Eleanor Noyce
A demonstrator dresses as Postman Pat as striking mail workers and supporters march to Parliament Square on December 9, 2022 in London, England. Royal Mail workers are staging strikes throughout December in an escalating row over pay, jobs and conditions.
Striking mail workers and supporters attend Parliament Square rally
Friday 9 December 2022 13:24 , Eleanor Noyce
Striking mail workers and supporters attend rally in Parliament Square, London in fight for better pay and conditions.
Air filled with loud music, whistles and colourful flares at Parliament Square rally
Friday 9 December 2022 13:26 , Eleanor Noyce
Thousands of Royal Mail workers have gathered outside Parliament in central London to mark another strike in the increasingly bitter dispute over jobs, pay and conditions.
Many among the animated crowd are wearing pink hi-vis vests, waving flags and holding placards that read “strike to win” and “save our Royal Mail“.
The air is filled with loud music, whistles and colourful flares.
The Communication Workers Union (CWU) was expecting more than 15,000 members to attend the rally, describing it as the biggest postal workers’ demonstration in living memory.
Postal workers begin Christmas strike action over bitter pay dispute
Friday 9 December 2022 13:30 , Eleanor Noyce
Postal workers at Royal Mail have begun a wave of strikes in the run-up to Christmas that will impact services across the UK.
The Communications Workers Union (CWU) have called on their members who collect, sort and deliver parcels and letters to strike on 9 December, 11 December, 14 December and 15 December.
The walkouts involve 115,000 workers and are taking place due to a bitter dispute over pay and conditions. The union has said its members want a pay rise that matches the soaring cost of living.
Holly Bancroft reports:
Postal workers begin Christmas strike action over bitter pay dispute
Government wants to avoid agreeing to pay demands of striking workers, Jeremy Hunt remarks
Friday 9 December 2022 13:35 , Eleanor Noyce
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has said the Government wants to avoid agreeing to the pay demand of striking workers as it will risk locking in high inflation across the UK economy.
He told the Financial Times’ Global Boardroom webinar: “We have to be really careful not to agree to pay demands that have the opposite of the intended effect because they lock in high inflation.
“So if we make the wrong choices now, we won’t have that 3.7% of inflation in January or February of 2024 and this will change from being a one-off problem, to being a permanent problem, which will be the worst possible thing for people working in public services.
“That is why it’s generally a very difficult issue.”
When asked whether the Treasury played a role in blocking rail workers’ demands for a 10% pay rise, he said the Treasury, Number 10 and individual spending departments are united in their approach to the situation.
“There is unanimity across the Government in that it wants high inflation to be temporary, and I think there is understanding that that is essential for the very people who are feeling most angry about their situation”, he added.
CWU shares photo capturing huge attendance at Parliament Square rally
Friday 9 December 2022 13:43 , Eleanor Noyce
The CWU (The Communication Workers Union) has shared a photo depicting the mass attendance at the Parliament Square rally. Striking workers and supporters alike have come out in their droves.
Postal workers not prepared to accept conditions that will ‘destroy’ the Royal Mail, Dave Ward says
Friday 9 December 2022 13:47 , Eleanor Noyce
The thousands of postal workers striking on Friday are not prepared to accept conditions that will “destroy” the Royal Mail under the banner of modernisation, the boss of the Communication Workers Union has said.
Dave Ward told the PA news agency: “They’re fighting for their jobs, their livelihood, and the service that they provide to the public.
“What we’ve got in this situation is not that we’re fearful of modernisation, but what the company are asking postal workers to agree is that we sack thousands of them whilst at the same time bringing in self-employed drivers, new recruits on less than 20% pay terms and conditions and whilst retaining agency workers.”
He said the company’s demands for workers to start up to three hours later “will destroy the future of Royal Mail”.
Strike aimed at achieving job security for Royal Mail workers, Dave Ward says
Friday 9 December 2022 13:54 , Eleanor Noyce
The strike is aimed at securing job security for Royal Mail workers, CWU general secretary Dave Ward said.
He told PA it was about “giving job security to postal workers who only 18 months ago were hailed as key workers.
“They kept the country going, they kept the country connected and they delivered and picked up all of the test kits.
“So it’s about keeping postal workers, decent working people, in work and making sure that this company has a successful future and that it doesn’t just get turned into just another parcel courier.”
CWU concerned government ‘sitting behind’ conditions Royal Mail wants to impose on postal workers
Friday 9 December 2022 14:02 , Eleanor Noyce
The chief of the Communication Workers Union said he is “worried” the government is “sitting behind” conditions the company wants to impose on postal workers.
Dave Ward told PA: “We haven’t had any engagement with the government on this. We are worried as to whether or not the government is sitting behind this.
“The proposals that we’re facing are strikingly similar to what the RMT union and railway workers are facing.
“But our focus is on trying to negotiate a settlement with the employer at the moment. We hope the government aren’t interfering in that.”
Postal worker joining Parliament Square rally accuses Royal Mail of ‘total mismanagement'
Friday 9 December 2022 14:13 , Eleanor Noyce
A postal worker joining thousands at a rally in Parliament Square has accused Royal Mail of “total mismanagement” and said the conditions demanded are “unachievable”.
Gary Wright, who is originally from Manchester but has worked as a mail delivery worker in Bristol for five years, travelled to London on coaches with around 200 colleagues to take part in the action.
He told the PA news agency: “Why we’re here today is because the terms and conditions that they’re wanting to bring in are unachievable. They’re wanting to make it into basically a gig company taking on parcels to match with DPD and the likes of Amazon, but they have not got the infrastructure.
“They’ve made £750 million and then to say ‘now we’re losing a million pounds a day’. Where that’s gone, that’s total mismanagement.”
He said the conditions the employer wants to impose would mean working Sundays for the basic rate and “later starts, later finishes”.
“I have to travel to work and for me to get home it means it might be an extra even two hours on top of normal finish time because there’s traffic and everything.
“We work to live, not live to work.”
Letters to the editor: “The Tories seem determined to make our ignoble history repeat itself”
Friday 9 December 2022 14:33 , Eleanor Noyce
“I am in my early 60s. The defining political event of my generation was the Great Miners’ Strike of 1984-5 – the longest, most bitter national strike in British working-class history.
“For over a year, the Thatcher government mobilized the full power of the state to break the strike by the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) who were fighting to prevent colliery closures, the destruction of their industry and in defence of their communities.
“It was a dispute which demanded an answer to the question: which side are you on?”
Letters to the editor: our readers share their views. More here:
Letters: The Tories seem determined to make our ignoble history repeat itself
Striking postal worker holds placard reading ‘Postman Pat deserves better than that’ at Parliament Square rally
Friday 9 December 2022 14:47 , Eleanor Noyce
The Independent’s Mustafa Qadri captures a striking postal worker holding a placard reading ‘Postman Pat deserves better than that’ at today’s Parliament Square rally.
‘We’re here to support them because they deserve our support’, Richard Burgon MP tells The Independent
Friday 9 December 2022 14:53 , Eleanor Noyce
“There are Labour MPs here today because we support the workers fighting back against what is the biggest attack on living standards in living memory. When you look at the Royal Mail workers, the boss Simon Thompson is treating them like they’re dirt”, Richard Burgon MP tells Mustafa Qadri at The Independent.
“Quite rightly, during the worst of the pandemic they were recognised as heroes but now they’re being treated so badly by Simon Thompson and the Royal Mail bosses.
“They’re fighting back today against attacks on terms and conditions, against compulsory redundancies and also to defend Royal Mail. It’s an important British institution, a real public service loved across the country.
“We’re here to support them because they deserve our support.”
‘I’m proud to be here supporting them’, Jeremy Corbyn MP tells The Independent of Parliament Square rally
Friday 9 December 2022 15:00 , Eleanor Noyce
“These postal workers that are here today have come in their tens of thousands from all over the country because they want decent pay, because they want decent conditions at work, because they want to serve all of our communities”, Jeremy Corbyn MP tells Mustafa Qadri at The Independent.
“This is a strike about workers’ rights, workers’ conditions and our communities all over the country. I’m proud to be here supporting them.”
RMT’s Eddie Dempsey shows support at Parliament Square rally
Friday 9 December 2022 15:07 , Eleanor Noyce
“Today is so important because at the RMT, we’ve said we want to support workers in every trade union that are prepared to stand up and fight and the CWU, that’s what they’re doing”, RMT assistant general secretary Eddie Dempsey tells Mustafa Qadri at The Independent.
“We’ve been supporting them from the start and that means every time they take action, we’re going to be beside them including when they put events on like this.
“It’s extremely important and we want to keep fighting for them.”
‘Everything is just chaos’, Royal Mail employee says of management at Parliament Square rally
Friday 9 December 2022 15:17 , Eleanor Noyce
“I’ve come here because the terms and conditions and everything Royal Mail are laying on us at the moment is totally unacceptable”, Royal Mail employee Andy Coldwell, 59, tells Mustafa Qadri at The Independent.
“Longer hours, new working conditions, bullying and harassment by the management, no pay rise, everything is just chaos.
“Christmas post is not being delivered. It’s not the post peoples’ fault, it’s the fault of the management.”
Parliament Square rally ‘biggest show of support for one group of workers’ in ‘decades’, Dave Ward tells The Independent
Friday 9 December 2022 15:33 , Eleanor Noyce
“I think it’s the biggest show of support for one group of workers who are facing the most brutal attack that this country’s seen on a group of workers for decades and decades”, CWU’s general secretary Dave Ward tells Mustafa Qadri at The Independent.
“These are fantastic people, hardworking people. They want to be nothing more than back at work delivering to the public, delivering to the businesses.
“My thoughts today are this is a show of strength like you’ve never seen before and it’s going to see us through to winning this dispute. I have no doubt about that.”
The Parliament Square rally held by striking postal workers has now congregated outside Buckingham Palace.
‘We don’t have a manager that’s ever been a postman’, Royal Mail worker tells The Independent
Friday 9 December 2022 15:40 , Eleanor Noyce
“For me, it’s just to show the solidarity of all the CWU members and that we need to get rid of the CEO”, Royal Mail worker Gary Vipond, 62, tells Mustafa Qadri at The Independent.
“There’s a lot of stress. The Royal Mail are trying to put more and more work on, they’re trying to bring in new systems of work that haven’t been tested. None of them know anything about it.
“We don’t have a manager that’s ever been a postman, so they’re insisting on unachievable aims. We know it’s going to fail.
“Let us, let the CWU, let the posties have a say and then maybe we’ve got a chance of it working.”
CWU hold protest rally outside Parliament as strikes over pay and conditions continue
Friday 9 December 2022 15:42 , Eleanor Noyce
The event has seen thousands of Royal Mail employees and their supporters rally from Parliament Square down to Buckingham Palace.
Royal Mail leadership lack the ‘knowledge’ and ‘ability’ to lead workers out of crisis, Dave Ward says
Friday 9 December 2022 15:57 , Eleanor Noyce
At the Parliament Square rally this afternoon, General Secretary of the Communication Workers Union Dave Ward addressed crowds of striking postal workers on stage.
“We’re so proud of your solidarity. We know how difficult it’s becoming”, he remarked.
“We know how difficult it is for our members and their families and their loved ones. We know how difficult it is for all workers in struggle.
“It is absolutely the right cause, for you as workers, for your families and for the service we provide. We’re fighting for things that we should be able to get in agreement with Royal Mail.
“Let’s just remind ourselves where the company came from. One of the things that we’re seeing now is the people who’ve created a crisis here, the CEO and a few handfuls of people on the board chairing the company, they have not got the knowledge or the ability to lead us out of that crisis.
“But you have, haven’t you?”
Will my train be running during the rail strikes?
Friday 9 December 2022 16:30 , Eleanor Noyce
The most protracted and disruptive national rail strikes since 1989 begin on Tuesday 13 December. They involve walk-outs on a total of 12 days, stretching into the New Year, by the RMT union as well as some industrial action by the TSSA and Unite unions.
The strikes that will disrupt passenger trains the most involve a series of four 48-hour stoppages:
13-14 December
16-17 December
3-4 January
6-7 January
Some trains will be affected on the evening before strikes, and many will be disrupted on the days after strikes.
The RMT leadership has also imposed an overtime ban across 14 train operators from 18 December until 2 January, which will disrupt travel during the festive period.
Will my train be running during the rail strikes?
Friday strikes in pictures
Friday 9 December 2022 17:00 , Emily Atkinson
Striker accuses employer of ‘total mismanagement'
Friday 9 December 2022 17:35 , Emily Atkinson
A postal worker joining thousands at a protest in Westminster earlier today accused the employer of “total mismanagement” and said the conditions demanded are “unachievable”.
Gary Wright, who is originally from Manchester but has worked as a mail delivery worker in Bristol for five years, travelled to London on coaches with around 200 colleagues to take part in the action.
He told the PA news agency: “Why we’re here today is because the terms and conditions that they’re wanting to bring in are unachievable. They’re wanting to make it into basically a gig company taking on parcels to match with DPD and the likes of Amazon, but they have not got the infrastructure.
“They’ve made £750 million and then to say ‘now we’re losing a million pounds a day’. Where that’s gone, that’s total mismanagement.”
He said the conditions the employer wants to impose would mean working Sundays for the basic rate and “later starts, later finishes”.
“I have to travel to work and for me to get home it means it might be an extra even two hours on top of normal finish time because there’s traffic and everything.
“We work to live, not live to work.”
Rail strikes: Train firm cancels Midlands half of route network for nearly a month
Friday 9 December 2022 18:30 , Emily Atkinson
As members of the RMT union prepare for the next national rail strike, one leading train operator has announced it will close half its rail network as a result of industrial action – for 26 days in a row.
Chiltern Railways, which runs trains to and from London Marylebone station, will stop running on the Midlands part of its network from 13 December – when the next 48-hour strike begins – until 8 January inclusive.
For almost a month, no Chiltern services will run north of Banbury in Oxfordshire. The 24 stations affected include the important Birmingham stations of Snow Hill and Moor Street, as well as Kidderminster, Leamington Spa and Stratford-upon-Avon.
Our travel correspondent Simon Calder reports:
Rail strikes: Train firm cancels Midlands half of route network for nearly a month
Simon Calder: Should we reschedule our imminent Eurostar trip?
Friday 9 December 2022 19:30 , Emily Atkinson
Travel correspondent Simon Calder answers your questions on travelling during rail strike periods, fuel waste by airlines and night flight rules:
Should we reschedule our imminent Eurostar trip?
Many troops to be drafted in to fill jobs of striking workers over Christmas, says Rishi Sunak
Friday 9 December 2022 20:30 , Emily Atkinson
Rishi Sunak has confirmed that many military personnel are to be drafted in to prevent disruption during industrial action over Christmas, in a move which has been condemned by union bosses as “strike-breaking”.
More from political editor Andrew Woodcock here:
Many troops to be drafted in to fill jobs of striking workers, says Rishi Sunak
Watch: Rishi Sunak confirms military to be used to minimise disruption from strikes
Friday 9 December 2022 21:30 , Emily Atkinson
Editorial: Anti-union laws are not the answer to a winter of discontent
Friday 9 December 2022 22:30 , Emily Atkinson
Those hoping that the government will somehow save them from inconvenience (or worse) this Christmas will be disappointed. The government appears to have no answers and not even much seasonal goodwill.
Read our editorial in full here:
Editorial: Anti-union laws are not the answer to a winter of discontent
Watch: CWU hold protest rally outside Parliament as strikes over pay and conditions continue
Friday 9 December 2022 23:30 , Emily Atkinson
00:30 , Sam Rkaina
We’re ending our live strike coverage for the day, but stay with independent.co.uk for the latest updates.
