Britons face weeks of misery after militant unions organised a series of strikes on the railways, in schools, in hospitals and at airports over the next month.
Hot on the heels of industrial action a fortnight ago which brought the country to a standstill, train drivers are set to strike again in early May.
But alongside those walkouts in the coming weeks is more disruption on the London Underground, along with strikes by airport staff, security guards and teachers.
Action involving border control staff just days before the May Bank Holiday is expected to impact thousands of holidaymakers planning a short break.
NHS support staff are also taking action – the latest blow to the health service after months of walkouts by junior doctors.
Here, MailOnline outlines the full scale of the strikes, when they are happening, and how they will affect you.
All of the strikes due to take place over the next four weeks from April 26 to May 19
Hospital NHS support staff
700 staff at Barts Health NHS Trust, in East London (pictured: St Bartholomew’s Hospital, London, one of the hospitals managed by the trust) are set to go on strike
BACKGROUND:
Health workers are to stage fresh strikes in a long-running dispute over pay.
Unite said around 700 of its members at Barts NHS Trust and contractor Synergy will walk out from May 7 to 19.
The union said the workers – including cleaners, porters and facilities staff – are taking action over the failure of their employer to pay a lump sum worth more than £1,600 that other NHS workers were offered for working during the pandemic.
Unite said its members worked for another outsourcing company before transferring back into the NHS just after the imposed deadline for staff to receive the payment.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: ‘If Barts thinks that our members have given up on this fight they have another thing coming.
‘They have seen their comrades at other trusts rightly win this pay award and there is absolutely no reason for NHS bosses to be continuing to block this payment for our members.’
WHAT IS THE NHS TRUST SAYING?
MailOnline has approached Barts NHS Trust for comment.
Train strikes
RMT has announced that National Rail strikes will go ahead over the May Bank Holiday
BACKGROUND:
Train drivers at 16 rail companies are to stage a fresh series of strikes in their long-running pay dispute, disrupting travel in the week of the May bank holiday.
Members of Aslef will walk out on May 7, 8 and 9 at different operators and ban overtime for six days from May 6.
The union said it has not met employers or the Government for more than a year, accusing ministers of ‘giving up’ trying to resolve the near two-year dispute.
Drivers will strike on May 7 at c2c, Greater Anglia, GTR Great Northern Thameslink, Southeastern, Southern, Gatwick Express and South Western Railway.
Aslef members at LNER, Northern Trains and TransPennine Express will strike on May 9.
Aslef said train drivers have not had an increase in salary for five years, since their last pay deals expired in 2019.
The union said that after its members voted overwhelmingly in February to continue taking industrial action, it asked the train operating companies to hold talks.
General secretary Mick Whelan said: ‘It is now a year since we sat in a room with the train companies and a year since we rejected the risible offer they made and which they admitted, privately, was designed to be rejected.
‘We first balloted for industrial action in June 2022, after three years without a pay rise. It took eight one-day strikes to persuade the train operating companies (Tocs) to come to the table and talk.
‘Our negotiating team met the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) on eight occasions – the last being on Wednesday April 26 last year.
‘That was followed by the Tocs’ ‘land grab’ for all our terms and conditions on Thursday April 27 – which was immediately rejected.
‘Since then train drivers have voted, again and again, to take action to get a pay rise.
‘That’s why Mark Harper, the Transport Secretary, is being disingenuous when he says that offer should have been put to members. Drivers would not vote to strike if they thought an offer was acceptable.’
Mr Whelan said the year-old offer of a four percent pay rise followed by a second 4 percent increase is ‘dead in the water’.
Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan on the picket line at Euston train station in London
WHAT IS THE GOVERNMENT SAYING?
A spokesman for the Rail Delivery Group said: ‘This wholly unnecessary strike action called by the Aslef leadership will sadly disrupt customers and businesses once again, while further damaging the railway at a time when taxpayers are continuing to contribute an extra £54 million a week just to keep services running.
‘We continue to seek a fair agreement with the Aslef leadership which both rewards our people, gives our customers more reliable services and makes sure the railway isn’t taking more than its fair share from taxpayers.’
A Department for Transport spokesperson, added: ‘Aslef’s leadership are acting like a broken record – calling for strike action time and time again while remaining the only rail union continuing to strike, as well as the only union refusing to put a fair and reasonable pay offer to its members for over a year.
‘The Transport Secretary and rail minister have done their part to facilitate this pay offer, – one which would take train drivers’ salaries up to an average of £65,000 which is almost twice the average salary in the UK.
‘Aslef bosses should take the lead of the other rail unions, put this offer to their members and stop their campaign of contempt for passengers.’
Airport strikes
Hundreds of workers at Heathrow Airport are set to go out on strike in a row over outsourcing
BACKGROUND:
Hundreds of workers at Heathrow Airport are to strike in a dispute over outsourcing of jobs.
Unite said around 800 of its members will launch a week of strikes from May 7-13.
The union said workers in passenger services, who assist travellers to catch connecting flights, trolley operations, and security guards will have their jobs outsourced by June.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: ‘Heathrow Airport’s actions are deplorable. It is raking in massive profits for the bosses while trying to squeeze every last penny out of its workforce.
‘Unite is fully focused on defending its members’ jobs, pay and conditions, and our members at Heathrow will receive the union’s unrelenting support during this dispute.’
In a separate row, workers who refuel airplanes are to strike in a dispute over terms and conditions.
Members of Unite employed by AFS will walk out for 72 hours from May 4.
The union said AFS, a joint venture between oil and gas companies, was planning to cut pension and sickness benefits.
WHAT IS HEATHROW SAYING?:
A Heathrow Airport spokesman said: ‘We are reorganising our operations to deliver better results for our customers. There are no job losses as a result of these changes, and we continue to discuss with Unite the implementation of these changes for the small number of colleagues impacted.
‘Unite’s threats of potential industrial action are unnecessary, and customers can be reassured that we will keep the airport operating smoothly, just like we have in the past.’
On the AFS row, Heathrow said it was working on contingencies with AFS to manage any potential disruption, saying it has ‘robust’ measures planned. They also said that passengers can book flights from Heathrow with confidence.
Teacher strikes
St Edward’s College in West Derby, Liverpool where teachers are set to strike
BACKGROUND:
High school teachers in Merseyside are staging walk-outs in a row over pupil behaviour.
St Edward’s College in West Derby, Liverpool, is set to close on Thursday as staff take part in strike action, having already walked out on Tuesday.
The National Education Union (NEU) said 60 of its members will take part in the industrial action after ‘negotiations broke down in a trade dispute centred around pupil behaviour last week’.
Other strike days have also been planned for next week which include April 30, May 1 and May 2.
Bora Oktas, regional officer of the NEU said: ‘Unfortunately, the college’s management of poor pupil behaviour and staff safety has been inadequate.
‘Despite our members’ efforts to address these issues, the employer’s failure to implement agreed-upon resolutions has left staff and pupils at risk. Our members have shown remarkable patience and dedication throughout this process since January.
‘They came to the negotiation table with genuine intentions, but unfortunately, the employer has taken their goodwill for granted.’
In January, the NEU said it sent a resolution document to the school outlining how pupil behaviour could be improved effectively and the necessary support and resources required.
Bora added: ‘Although the employer signed this agreement in February, progress has been sluggish due to some CLT members dragging their feet in implementation.
‘We find it disappointing that the employer has not honoured the spirit of the resolution agreement. We expected the employer to implement the agreement promptly. Instead, they have been consistently finding excuses to delay implementation. Our members deserve better.’
WHAT IS THE SCHOOL SAYING?
A letter from St Edward’s College, sent to parents and carers, said the school has met with the NEU many times over the previous term ‘to provide action and reassurance about various issues, including behaviour, equipment for teaching and directed time’.
Principal Stephen Morris and Chair of Governors John O’Brien said they felt dialogue was ‘positive and constructive’ and many matters raised by the NEU had been resolved.
The school said it recognises staff’s right to strike but understand parents may be concerned about the damaging effect it will have on pupils, particularly in Year 11 and Year 13.
The school said it is seeking urgent clarification around the matters the NEU believe are unresolved so ‘meaningful dialogue’ can continue.
St Edward’s College said it had agreed to establish a workplace joint union-management negotiation and consultation committee, and scheduled the first meeting of this.
It added: ‘Rest assured, we seek to continue our positive engagement with the NEU and earnestly hope that they will engage meaningfully with us.’
Tube strikes
Members of the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association will walk out on Friday and then ban overtime until May 5
BACKGROUND:
Customer service managers on London Underground are to stage a fresh strike in a dispute over terms and conditions.
Members of the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA) will walk out on Friday and then ban overtime until May 5.
The union said the action is likely to cause Tube stations to close at the last minute, including into Saturday morning.
The workers held a previous strike earlier this month.
TSSA general secretary Maryam Eslamdoust said: ‘It’s clear that our customer service managers’ strike on April 10 made a real impact, many stations shut at short notice, and we had overwhelming support from the public.
People walk past a closed Euston Underground station during an RMT strike in November 2022
‘Because of London Underground’s refusal to get back round the negotiating table, we have been forced to take further strike action this week.
‘London Underground must now come clean with the public. Their refusal to negotiate seriously and fairly with our union will lead to stations closing at the last minute and other stations being understaffed.
‘We have made it clear that our union will not accept the continued threats to our members’ roles, locations, terms and conditions to stand unchallenged.
‘We will continue to take sustained action until London Underground is prepared to negotiate with us in good faith.’
What is TFL saying?
A Transport for London spokesperson said: ‘We are disappointed that TSSA is continuing with this strike action following a consultation process.
‘While we don’t expect this action will cause significant disruption, we urge TSSA to continue to work with us to help find a resolution.
‘There are no planned job losses as part of these vital changes which will improve the service we provide to customers at our stations.’
Border force strikes
The University and College Union’s (UCU) Higher Education Committee announced new strikes on campus, unhappy with vice-chancellors’ responses
BACKGROUND:
Border Force staff at Heathrow Airport have voted to strike in a dispute over changes to shift patterns.
The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) said 300 of its members, who carry out immigration controls and passport checks at terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the airport, will walk out from April 29 to May 2.
Around 250 people will lose their jobs at passport control under new roster plans.
PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote said: ‘Our members are angry and disappointed at being forced out of their jobs.
‘While not everyone will be affected, the changes will disproportionately hit those who are disabled or have caring responsibilities.
‘The Home Office should be doing all it can to retain experienced, trained staff – not lose them by introducing an unworkable new roster system.’
What has the Home Office said?
The Home Office said it was ‘disappointed’ with the union’s decision but added it remains ‘open to discussing a resolution’.
It added: ‘The changes we are implementing will bring the working arrangements for Border Force Heathrow staff in line with the way staff work at other ports, provide them with more certainty on working patterns, and improve the service to the travelling public.
‘Keeping our borders secure remains our top priority and we have robust plans in place to minimise any potential disruption.’
Job centre strikes
The GMB union has said around 1,000 of its members employed by G4S at the Department for Work and Pensions will stage a series of walkouts at different offices on several days
BACKGROUND:
Jobcentres are facing strikes by security staff in a dispute over pay.
The GMB has already announced that more than 1,000 of its members employed by G4S at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will walk out for several days between May 7-29.
The Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) said on Wednesday that its members working in 700 jobcentres across the UK are to be balloted for strike action in the same dispute.
The union is seeking a rise for all 200 of its members employed by G4S, as well as reinstating a pay differential it says exists between grades.
General secretary Fran Heathcote said: ‘Our members work on the front line, playing a critical role in keeping their civil servant colleagues safe, as well as supporting the delivery of vital services to often very vulnerable benefit claimants.
‘They put their bodies on the line every day and it’s only fair they are fairly rewarded for their work with a decent pay rise.’
The ballot opens on May 1, with the result expected two weeks later.
What is G4S saying?
A G4S spokesperson said after the GMB strike announcement: ‘We are continuing to engage with our employees and their union representatives and will continue to try to reach an amicable agreement without the need for industrial action.
‘In the event of industrial action, we have contingency plans in place in order to minimise disruption to our customer.’