Inflation is rising globally, and it has affected every person’s life. But a sharp rise in the U.K. is a record over the last four decades and has impacted the lifestyle of the lower class more. Two thousand employees of Felixstowe container port started the walkout on August 21, 2022, for one week. The strike participants are Steve holders, crane drivers, and machine operators. They have demands for more pay and the adjustment in working hours. Railway employees had struck on Thursday and Saturday.
Employees of the Post Department also plan to strike for four days at the end of August for more pay. B.T, a telecom company, will face the first strike in many years. The staff of Amazon, collectors of paper wastage, and criminal lawyers will also go on strikes. Employees are demanding more pay to cope with the surging inflation.
The Bank of England estimates that inflation may rise to 13% in 2022-23, pushing the British economy into a recession. Ukraine-Russia war & Post-Brexit trade issues have surged the food and energy prices, adversely affecting the cost of living in the U.K. and other economies.
The leader of The Unite Union at Felixstowe has stated that this walkout will adversely affect the port’s activities. This port has an activity of 2000 ships based on four million containers annually. Sheron Graham, general secretary of The Unite Union, argued that CK Hutchison Holding Ltd had distributed $ 121 million to shareholders in 2020. They want an increase in pay according to the inflation because docks are earning profits.
A statement by Felixstowe, this walkout has depressed it, and the demand for an 8% increment in pay is not justifiable. It provides a secure/safe job and pays its employees. No one will get benefit from this strike.
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