The London Underground was brought to a near standstill on Friday and the rest of the public transport network severely disrupted by a pay strike in the face of the highest inflation in the UK, the day after a mass strike by rail workers.
There is “virtually no service” on the London Underground, although “two lines offer reduced traffic” with a train every 15 minutes or so, a spokeswoman for public transport operator TfL told AFP.
Bus traffic, overloaded by the withdrawal of many Londoners from this mode of transport, was also disrupted.
In front of Blackhorse Road station (northeast London), people gathered waiting for the opening of the Overground, a network of commuter trains that operates on Fridays in reduced service.
“I’m going to be late for work, I have to go to central London,” says a young woman running out of the station and hurrying to nearby bus stops.
mass strikes
While many train passengers were sympathetic to the rail strikers on Thursday, some late Londoners were less forgiving on Friday.
“I understand the message (that you give them) veulent faire passer à leurs patrons, mais (…) London is a great city et de nombreuses personnes ont besoin de se rendre à leur travail”, criticizes Catherine Ondo, une vendeuse âgée de 25 years.
“I don’t know how I’m going to get to work,” laments Greg Skalski, 43, a construction worker. He denounces “TfL’s rates that have risen a lot” and believes that the public operator’s salaries are already above the country average.
The United Kingdom is experiencing these days a new wave of massive strikes in transport, post, ports, the largest strike movement in decades in the face of inflation. In particular, a new day of strike on trains is planned for Saturday.
stalled negotiations
Negotiations with the multitude of private rail operators in the sector are stalled, according to the unions. The latter have also rejected an offer of a salary increase of 8% in two years from Network Rail, a public company that manages railway lines, which they accuse of being conditional on massive dismissals.
Transport Minister Grant Shapps, accused by the unions of blocking the situation, for his part criticizes the unions for rejecting reforms to modernize the railway.
It could happen with force, he assured Sky News on Friday. “If we can’t implement these upgrades, we’ll have to impose them,” he said.
Source: BFM TV
