- The twelve-hour stoppage will affect routine consultations, planned operations, and mental health services.
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| File image of a nurses' protest in London. |
Nurses join the wave of strikes in the United Kingdom and demand a wage increase
Tens of thousands of nurses in the United Kingdom join a 12-hour stoppage in the wave of strikes that this month affects public health, rail transport, airports, postal services, and other sectors of the country.
Affiliates to the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) union are demanding a wage increase of 5% above the Retail Consumer Price Index (RPI), which usually guides collective negotiations and which reached 14% in November ( compared to 10.7% of the Consumer Price Index).
In July, public health doctors in England and Wales received a 4.5% increase, and the rest of the workforce 4.75%.
The strike this Thursday, between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. GMT, will affect routine consultations, planned operations, and mental health services, among other areas of the health system, although the intensive care and emergency units will remain in operation.
The protest will continue
The day of protest will be repeated on the 20th, while on the 21st ambulance drivers and other emergency care employees will go on strike.
The mobilization of health workers adds to the protests that have paralyzed the UK rail network for many days this month.
Employees of 14 companies and the network rail operator Network Rail stopped their activity for 48 hours on Tuesday and Wednesday and will do so again on Friday and Saturday, as well as on January 3, 4, 6, and 7.
The communications of the United Kingdom with the rest of Europe will also be affected by strikes during this month.
For their part, Eurostar security employees have called strikes on December 16, 18, 22, and 23; Baggage workers at Heathrow airport will go on strike for 72 hours from Friday, and border agents at Heathrow, Gatwick, and other airports will also stop, from December 23 to 26, and from December 28 to 31.
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