A rail strike has paralyzed Britain's trains and left major stations empty, amid warnings that the strike could pave the way for large-scale industrial strikes across the country.
The strike is described as the largest in 30 years and will be carried out next Thursday and Saturday, in addition to Tuesday, in which more than 40,000 railway workers gathered at barriers they set up in British cities, to demand an increase in their salaries, protection of their jobs and improving working conditions.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson described the strike as a huge mistake, and called on the union to stop it, noting that what he described as the reforms proposed by railway operators would save the sector from bankruptcy.
On the other hand, the National Union of Railway, Maritime and Transport Workers says that its struggle is not only to raise wages, but to protect thousands from losing their jobs as well.
Companies are seeking to introduce new technologies that reduce the number of workers and save millions.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps responded that the strike was "useless, and we will have to make these reforms, no matter what."
The train stations seemed empty (Anatolia).
National Rail Network spokesman Kevin Groves said, "It's about modernizing railroads. There are some traditions from the 1950s and 1960s that have to be broken. If we can get the union to compromise on this, we'll save hundreds of millions, and we'll be able to Make a better offer to raise wages."
Trade unions have warned that rail strikes could mark the start of a "summer of discontent" when teachers, medical and waste disposal workers and even lawyers stage strikes as inflation approaches 10 percent due to soaring food and fuel prices.
In early June, the union confirmed that more than 50,000 railway employees would go on strike "in the biggest conflict in the sector since 1989" when it was privatized, calling for wages to rise in line with accelerating inflation.
The British economy initially rebounded strongly after the Covid-19 pandemic, but a combination of labor shortages, disruptions in supply chains, inflation and trade problems after the country's exit from the European Union led to warnings of a recession.