The head of Britain's ruling Conservative Party said on Sunday that the British government could use the army to help ensure the continuation of public services if workers in key sectors, including the NHS, go on strike.
"Our message to the trade unions is that this is not the time to strike, but rather the time to seek and negotiate. But in the absence of that, it is important for the government to have... alternative plans," Nazem Al-Zahawi told Sky News.
"We are studying the use of the army, with a specialized response force ... at maximum capacity," he said, adding that the army could be used to drive ambulances.
Britain is witnessing a wave of unprecedented strikes to demand higher salaries, the latest of which was the strike of bus drivers in areas west and south of London on Friday, November 25, and that was preceded by another day of strike for workers in the postal company.
This comes in light of the continuation of the strike of tens of thousands of university professors and workers across the country, in addition to schools in Scotland.
The Royal College of Nursing in Britain said last month that tens of thousands of nurses across the kingdom would strike on December 15 and 20 to demand an increase in their salaries.