UK rail, postal staff halt strikes after queen's death

UK rail, postal staff halt strikes after queen's death

The Communication Workers Union had planned to continue a 48-hour stoppage Friday but it was called off "out of respect for" the queen
The Communication Workers Union had planned to continue a 48-hour stoppage Friday but it was called off "out of respect for" the queen. Photo: Justin TALLIS / AFP/File
Source: AFP

British railway and postal workers, at the forefront of sector-wide strikes over a cost-of-living crisis, have halted upcoming walkouts following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

The Communication Workers Union had planned to continue a 48-hour stoppage Friday but it was called off "out of respect for" the queen, CWU general secretary Dave Ward said in a statement following the queen's passing in Scotland on Thursday.

The Trades Union Congress said it had postponed its four-day annual conference due to have begun Sunday.

"The UK's trade union movement sends our condolences to the Royal Family on the death of the Queen, and recognises her many years of dedicated service to the country," the TUC added in a statement.

The RMT rail union said it was suspending walkouts planned for next week and the TSSA transport union has called off its September strikes.

Read also

Stocks and oil prices rally, as dollar drops

Train drivers' union Aslef has also suspended a planned stoppage.

PAY ATTENTION: Follow us on Instagram - get the most important news directly in your favourite app!

"RMT joins the whole nation in paying its respects to Queen Elizabeth," its general secretary Mick Lynch said in a statement.

"The planned railway strike action on 15 and 17 September is suspended.

"We express our deepest condolences to her family, friends and the country," Lynch added.

Network Rail, which manages Britain's railways, said it welcomed "the unions' decision to call off" strikes.

In Scotland, refuse collectors had already decided a week ago to suspend walkouts as they mull an improved pay offer.

Summer of strikes

Tens of thousands of workers went on strike across Britain over the summer as decades-high inflation erodes earnings.

The walkouts have been spearheaded by the rail sector, which has carried out its biggest industrial action in 30 years.

Read also

UK's Truss expected to freeze energy bills

Some proposed non-rail strikes were halted after unions and companies agreed pay deals at the eleventh hour.

But walkouts have still gone ahead by Amazon warehouse staff and criminal lawyers in recent weeks.

Analysts are forecasting sector-wide stoppages to continue this year as inflation keeps on rising.

New Prime Minister and Conservative party leader Liz Truss is seen as wanting to take on the unions, which are traditionally allied to the main opposition Labour party.

In a bid to ease the cost-of-living crisis, Truss this week announced a huge financial package that will cap domestic energy bills.

This will eventually help to trim inflation but not before many households and business first see bills increase in October.

Teachers and health workers have meanwhile hinted at possible walkouts should they not receive new pay deals deemed acceptable.

Source: AFP

Authors:
AFP avatar

AFP AFP text, photo, graphic, audio or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. AFP news material may not be stored in whole or in part in a computer or otherwise except for personal and non-commercial use. AFP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions in any AFP news material or in transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages whatsoever. As a newswire service, AFP does not obtain releases from subjects, individuals, groups or entities contained in its photographs, videos, graphics or quoted in its texts. Further, no clearance is obtained from the owners of any trademarks or copyrighted materials whose marks and materials are included in AFP material. Therefore you will be solely responsible for obtaining any and all necessary releases from whatever individuals and/or entities necessary for any uses of AFP material.