Workers across multiple industries are continuing to take industrial action amid disputes over pay as the year continues.
Earlier this month, the biggest day of strikes in more than a decade took place. Some half a million teachers, train drivers, civil servants, university lecturers, bus drivers and security guards from seven trade unions walked out on Wednesday, February 1.
Dozens more strike days are planned for the next few weeks with rail staff, ambulance workers, teachers and border force all set to walk out before March 30.
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There should have been a strike taking place every day from Monday to Friday this week. Ambulance workers are staging industrial action, and university lecturers had planned to walk out too, but these strikes have since been paused.
University lecturers across the UK were due to strike on Tuesday (February 21), Wednesday (February 22) and Thursday (February 23) this week. But they will no longer go ahead, after the University and College Union (UCU) said it had made 'significant progress' during talks with employers.
The dispute is over pay and conditions, while some members are also striking over pensions. Dr Grady, UCU general secretary, said: "To allow our ongoing negotiations to continue in a constructive environment, we have agreed to pause action across our pay and working conditions and USS pensions disputes for the next two weeks and create a period of calm."
However strikes planned for Thursday 16, Friday 17, Monday 20, Tuesday 21 and Wednesday 22 March, will still go ahead.
That leaves ambulance workers and health and social care workers striking this week. On Monday, ambulance drivers in North East England, the East Midlands and Wales went on strike.
Workers in North West England will strike on Wednesday (February 22), while ambulance and health and social care workers are set to strike in Northern Ireland on Thursday (February 23). Ambulance workers in Northern Ireland will continue their strike on Friday (February 24).
During ambulance worker strikes in January, NHS Medical Director Professor Sir Stephen Powis said: “As with other ambulance strikes the message to patients remains that it is vital to come forward and seek emergency care if needed.
“This includes calling 999 for life threatening emergencies as well as using 111 online for other health needs where you will receive clinical advice on the best next steps to take. People should also continue to use local services such as pharmacies and general practice as they normally would which aren’t impacted by strike action.”
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