More than 1,000 passport officers will walk out of their workplace on April 3, as part of a strike that opposes a two percent pay rise. This leaves millions of Britons unable to renew their passports ahead of the summer travel season.
According to Bloomberg, all offices that offer services regarding passports will be disrupted, including the biggest one in London and except for the Belfast office. Last year, almost one million people applied for passports, and the long strike could create a backlog that directly affects those people waiting to get their documents, VisaGuide.World reports.
In general, passport applications are usually higher in March, April and May, compared to other months as people prepare for their summer holidays. More specifically, 1.2 million applications for passports were made in the UK last year, with the majority of those being recorded in March (100,000), April (90,000) and May (120,000).
Last week, around 133,000 civil servants went on strike on the day when the annual budget was introduced. On this day, the government offered a five per cent pay rise to nurses, ambulance workers and midwives in England for the next financial year, in an effort to end strikes.
“This escalation of our action has come about because, in sharp contrast with other parts of the public sector, ministers have failed to hold any meaningful talks with us, despite two massive strikes and sustained, targeted action lasting six months,” PCS General Secretary Mark Serwotka said.
Strikes have also dominated the UK’s biggest airport, which faces strike action over Easter, as over 3,000 engineers, firefighters, security guards and other workers are expected to participate in the strike. As the union pointed out, the strikes come as many members claim they cannot support themselves financially with the high inflation going on at the moment.
Unite regional coordinating officer, Wayne King said that strike action is expected to cause serious disruptions throughout Heathrow with delays, cancellations and disruptions being inevitable.
Similarly, the National Union of Rail Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) says that the transport ministers should also follow the example of health ministers and offer better salaries for workers in the industry. Train passengers are currently dealing with disruptions as the strike from teachers, civil servants and junior doctors, as well as rail workers over their pay and work conditions continues. In Saturday’s rail strike, workers at 14 train operators joined the strike over a long-running dispute regarding pay, job cuts and conditions.
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