Britain is facing new union moves as an extension of strikes in recent months, with teachers rejecting a government offer to improve wages, and passport issuing staff starting a five-week strike.
The country's largest teachers' union said on Monday that 98 percent of teachers who voted on the government offer supported the union's recommendation to reject it, which includes an extraordinary grant of 1239,4 pounds ($5,<>) for this financial year and a <>.<> percent pay increase from next financial year.
The union announced that teachers decided to strike on April 27 and on May <>, to mobilize again against the government and push it to improve supply.
Since the start of the year, tens of thousands of teachers across Britain have taken part in protests demanding higher wages to offset rising inflation. Schools were left empty, and pressure mounted on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to resolve the crisis.
On the other hand, the employees of the passport issuing authority began a 5-week strike, in which more than a thousand members of the PCS union of civil servants and the public sector are scheduled to participate.
These workers are demanding that the Government initiate negotiations with them, as it has done with employees of other sectors, particularly nursing and education.
The union, which includes more than 130,28 civil servants, called for a broad strike day on April <> involving all government departments.
Union general secretary Mark Serotka said in a statement: "Unlike with other government sectors, the government has not had meaningful talks with us, despite two major strikes and other targeted actions in the past six months."
The British Home Office confirmed the rise in passport applications (Getty Images)
Increased demand for passports
The BBC reported that demand for passports had risen with the announcement of a workers' strike.
According to the authority, the Interior Ministry confirmed an increase in applications for passports, but said they were close to expected levels.
The ministry stated that it does not currently intend to change its circular on the time required to issue and deliver the passport, which states that it is up to 10 weeks.
Meanwhile, security guard staff at Heathrow Terminal Five continue their strike for the fourth consecutive day.
About 1400,10 airport workers' union members are on strike after they rejected an offer of a <> percent wage increase, arguing that it was insufficient in light of the living crisis.
For its part, the airport management announced that it has developed a contingency plan that includes the appointment of a thousand additional employees and the use of other workers to mitigate the repercussions of the strike.
The United Kingdom, which is suffering from a living crisis not seen in decades, has been rocked by several trade union and social movements in recent months.
After a weeks-long strike, nurses, other health workers and railway workers suspended their movements after receiving offers from the government to improve wages.