Border Patrol officers departed the UK on Friday at six of the country’s biggest airports to demand pay increases.

border policemen An eight-day UK strike began on Friday at six of the country’s biggest airports to demand pay rises, raising fears of riots during this Christmas holiday period.

A thousand members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union, employed by the Home Office, have launched strikes at London’s Heathrow and Gatwick airports, as well as at Birmingham, Cardiff, Glasgow and Manchester airports, and at the Newhaven harbor in the south. from England.

Heathrow and Gatwick airports ensured that passport controls had been carried out without unusual delays in the morning thanks to the mobilization of soldiers.

A wave of social protest

This strike is expected to last until the end of the year, with suspension on December 27. Strikers demand wage increases as UK inflation hits nearly 11%.

The country has been hit by a wave of social protest on a scale not seen in decades, with the government so far showing inflexibility in the face of the strikers’ demands.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak estimated friday” act fairly and reasonably “.” I want to make sure we reduce inflation, which means being responsible when it comes to setting public sector wages. “, he added.

He told himself ” very sad ” Y ” disappointed due to the disruptions caused by the strikes.

The general secretary of the PCS union, Mark Serwotka, warned that there would be a ” rise in power civil servants’ strike in January if the government refuses to negotiate.

” We believe that the border action is going to be very effective. We hope that the government will then do the right thing, come to the negotiating table and put money “he said on the BBC. “ If not the case, (…) we will support this action until May and will vote again if necessary “, he threatened.

Strike in the health sector

Post Office (Royal Mail) workers also went on strike, causing mail delays. There will also be strikes in rail transport.

Tuesday and Wednesday, the health sector was strongly affected by a strike by nurses and later by paramedicsa movement widely supported by citizens for a sector greatly weakened by a decade of austerity and then by the pandemic.

The nurses union, the Royal College of Nursing, announced this Friday new strikes for January 18 and 19 if the Government does not open negotiations.

On the other hand, the paramedics suspended their work stoppage that was scheduled for December 28.

On January 12, the strike will spread to the London Underground when the employees of the Elizabeth line, inaugurated in May, stop working.