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Strikes in the UK were an everpresent occurrence in 2022 and are looking to continue well into 2023. Due to the sharp increases in the cost of living and wages not rising in turn, employees across multiple industries are organising further walkouts in the coming weeks. Are we set to see picket lines across the UK and EU continue? (Photo by GgWink/iStock) Table of contentsWhen are the next strikes?TrainsBusesNursesAmbulance workersTeachersCivil ServicePhysiotherapistsWhat is causing the strikes? When are the next strikes? Trains Image: Shutterstock Both the ASLEF and RMT train unions have announced that national strikes will take place on 1 and 3 February. The decision to strike would cause large parts of the London Underground network to close. There will be no service on the following lines: Avanti West CoastChiltern RailwaysCrossCountryEast Midlands RailwayGatwick ExpressGreat NorthernHeathrow ExpressIsland LineLondon Northwestern RailwayNorthernSoutheasternSouthernThameslinkTransPennine ExpressWest Midlands Railway Great Western Railways, Greater Anglia and LNER will be running amended services. Finn Brennan, ASLEF district organiser for London, told the Evening Standard: “Our dispute is over management’s failure to give us the assurances we have asked for that any changes to terms and conditions and pension arrangements for our members will only be made by agreement. “We have repeatedly said that we are prepared to negotiate on changes and work with the company to find ways to cut costs, but we cannot accept cuts to pensions or increases to workloads being forced through without agreement.” [Read more: Will the national rail strike affect London’s Tube and Overground?] Buses Image: Shutterstock Staff working on TfL buses operated by Abellio will be striking on Wednesday and Friday 3 February, represented by Unite the Union. Day routes: 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 481 route is partially running with fewer services. 24-hour routes: 24, 111, 159, 285, 344, 345 Night routes: N3, N27, N63, N68, N109, N207, N381 School routes: 671 Nurses Image: Shutterstock After the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) organised its first mass walkouts in 106 years in December and January, demanding a pay increase of 5% above the RPI inflation rate, the organisation has now announced there will be more strike action taking place in England on 6 and 7 February. With a 4.75% pay rise awarded, the union now demands a 19% pay rise instead. This is because, since 2010, an experienced nurse's real-terms compensation has dropped by 20%. "Anger has become action – our members are saying enough is enough," said RCN general secretary and chief executive Pat Cullen. Ambulance workers In addition to the combined strike with nurses and hospital staff, the GMB, Unison and Unite unions have confirmed that ambulance workers will take action between 26 January and 20 March across the UK. Life-preserving care, such as that for heart attacks and massive trauma, will still be delivered as per union rules. The strikes will be taking place on the following dates: Unite: 26 January and 16, 17, 23 and 24 February - Northern Ireland6 and 20 February, and 6 and 20 March - Wales6 and 17 February, and 6 and 20 March - West Midland6 and 20 February, and 6 and 20 March - North East6 and 20 February, and 6 and 20 March - East Midlands6 and 22 February, 6 and 20 March - North West GMB: 6 and 20 February, and 6 and 20 March - South West, South East Coast, North West, South Central, North East, East Midland, Yorkshire and Wales While the governments in England and Wales gave NHS personnel an average raise of 4.75%, the unions demanded pay increases that were higher than inflation. Teachers Members of the National Education Union (NEU) announced on 16 January that teachers and support staff would be taking mass strike action on 1 February in a move that will likely close or at least partially close every school in England and Wales. Along with this, the NEU has announced action on the following dates: 1 February - England and Wales14 February - Wales28 February - North and north-west England, Yorkshire and Humber1 March - East Midlands, West Midlands, and the NEU's eastern region2 March - London, South-east and south-west England15 and 16 March - England and Wales The union is arguing for an above-inflation pay rise and is taking action against the current government plan to increase wages by around 5% for most teachers. Like others, the strikes are due to compensation failing to keep up with inflation. In teachers' cases, real terms pay has fallen by 14% on average between 2010 and 2023. Civil Service The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) has announced the first in a wave of strikes that started in December and are set to last "well into 2023". Some 124 government departments have voted to strike in total, citing "a 10% pay rise, pensions justice, job security and no cuts to redundancy terms" as demands. In the largest action announced so far, 100,000 civil servants are set to strike on 1 February, with a further 33,000 re-balloting to join the strike. The action will include workers at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), the Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), among others. For specific strike dates and areas, visit the PCS website. Physiotherapists The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) announced on 11 January that NHS physiotherapists across 30 trusts on 26 January, with further action at an additional 30 trusts taking place on 9 February. Claire Sullivan, CSP director of employer relations and union services, said: "We know taking strike action is an absolute last resort for CSP members, but NHS staff not only deserve better pay but also desperately need it during this cost of living crisis." "This dispute will protect patient services both now and into the future, and it’s essential that the government comes up with an improved offer to avert further strikes and demonstrate they understand the scale of the problem." What is causing the strikes? The strike action over 2022 and the upcoming planned walkouts have largely been in response to real-term pay cuts in the face of the cost-of-living crisis, and, in some cases, redundancies, pensions and working conditions. This has been strongly exacerbated by inflation, which is at highs not seen in decades - 9.2% as of December according to the Office for National Statistics. [Read more: How will train strikes affect London's tube and overground?]

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