While your Rat is out on the road, some of you might want to grit your teeth. Tuesday marks the start of a wave of strikes that threatens to dominate the week and possibly the rest of the month.
As the BBC’s Employment Correspondent, I bring you the latest information every night on what’s about to happen over the next 24 hours to help you prepare and manage your day.
At least one union will be on strike every day for the rest of this week.
Most strikes are about wage increases to keep up with rising prices – but some are also about pensions, working conditions and job security.
So what happens on Tuesday?
The railway workers’ union RMT is on strike for four days this week – Tuesday and Wednesdayand then on again Friday and Saturday.
It will mean the near total closure of British railways.
RMT rail union leader Mick Lynch has requested a face-to-face meeting with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak – but on Monday afternoon Downing Street made it clear it has no plans to intervene in negotiations between rail bosses and unions.
Shortly after, the RMT turned down a salary offer – meaning Tuesday’s strike will continue as planned.
Network Rail – which owns and maintains the rails, signals and stations – says half of the rail lines will be closed on strike days. There will be no trains at all in most parts of Scotland and Wales.
The RMT wants a salary offer that reflects the rising cost of living and a guarantee that forced labor will not be lost. Rail bosses say changes need to be agreed to modernize the railroad and cover the cost of wage increases.
The advice is to avoid taking trains on Tuesdays if possible, but if you must travel:
- Check your train company’s website for information before you start your journey
- Be prepared early for no services in the morning or late in the evening
- Expect busy carriages with only every fifth service operating between 07:30 and 18:30 GMT
If one assumes earlier strikes, also on the strike-free days of this week – Thursday and Sunday – The patience of the train passengers should be put to the test. Because wagons, locomotives and personnel may not be in the right place at the beginning of these days. The cold and wintry weather will also make it more difficult to ensure rail workers are where they need to be.
More train strikes are planned in the coming weeks, including over Christmas. Take a look at what to expect.
If you’re hoping to pass your driving test in the coming weeks, you might have to wait a little longer.
As driving examiners and other officials from the Union for Public and Commercial Services (PCS) begin to strike Tuesdaywell into the next month.
But it depends where you live.
To start with – from Tuesday December 13th to Sunday 18 December – North East England and Scotland are the affected areas.
- Take a look at when PCS strikes will take place in other parts of the UK.
Some vehicle inspection and enforcement services may also be unavailable.
The number of strikes will increase as the week progresses.
Remember that we will have a daily update like this every day to keep you up to date.
The big one Wednesdayas well as the train strike, will be at Royal Mail – when more than 115,000 postal workers are expected to leave.
The last posting day for first-class delivery before Christmas has already been brought forward here Friday December 16th.
- When are postal strikes and Christmas mail deadlines?
Unions representing nurses, road workers, some bus workers in south and west London and baggage handlers at Heathrow will also go on strike later this week.
And later in the month, ambulance workers in England and Wales and about 1,000 border guards will also take industrial action.
- Read our full guide to December’s strikes – and why they’re happening
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