The biggest train strike in about 30 years has begun in Britain: many otherwise packed train stations were nearly deserted on Tuesday morning, as only about a fifth of trains were set to run. Tens of thousands of railway workers went on strike for higher wages and better working conditions. The London Underground is also at a standstill.
The railway employees do not only want to stop working on Tuesday, but also on Thursday and Saturday. London Underground workers also went on strike on Tuesday.
Apologies to passengers
Andrew Haines, the boss of train operator Network Rail, apologized in the “BBC” interview to the tens of thousands of travelers who will have to transfer to other modes of transport this week. In addition to the connections of Netwerk Rail, the trains of a dozen other train operators are also covered.
Unionist John Leach justified the strike: “We can’t get involved in something nearly eight percent behind inflation — that’s absolutely unacceptable.” Of course we regret the disruption and inconvenience to passengers.
Government criticizes strike
The conservative government of Prime Minister Boris Johnson condemned the strikes. Johnson accused the unions of harming the people they were supposed to help with their actions. In addition, excessive wage demands would exacerbate the cost of living problem.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
