Rishi Sunak has been warned that his “high risk” strategy on public sector pay rises could backfire, as an exclusive poll for The Independent showed strong public support for fresh strikes in 2023.

Almost two in three voters would back NHS nurses taking more strike action next year if their pay demands are not met, the Savanta poll found, with only 24 per cent opposed.

In addition, more voters expressed support for fresh industrial action by rail staff, bus drivers, postal workers and teachers than those who said they were opposed to further strikes.

Adam Forrest reports:

After decades when it was – sadly – usually safe to ignore the pronouncements of union leaders, the most widespread outbreak of industrial action since 1979 has meant that they are household names once again.

Not yet as familiar as, say, Mick Lynch, is the brand new general secretary of the Trades Union Congress, Paul Nowak, who formally takes over from Frances (now Baroness) O’Grady on 1 January. He is, though, making a somewhat loud entrance.

He told The Independent that the strikes could carry on throughout 2023 if the government refuses to negotiate over pay rises. If we take ministers at their word, that they won’t do so until at least the new public pay body recommendations arrive in April, then the country is in for a prolonged period of conflict.

Writes Sean O’Grady:

Ever since I was a young child, I dreamt of being a nurse that worked for the NHS. Twelve years ago, after lots of hard work and determination, I achieved that goal. There were lots of sacrifices from my family, who supported me throughout my course.

I currently work as a deputy sister in an NHS hospital in Lincolnshire.

My role is as part of an acute cardiology team that has face to face contact with patients that attend the hospital after having heart attacks and following cardiac arrests.

Writes Debbie Quinn:

The DVSA strike continues in London, the South East, South Wales and the South West.

RPA staff to continue their walkout.

10 January

The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) union will stage a national strike in primary schools, special schools and early years sites.

The DVSA strike continues in London, the South East, South Wales and the South West.

RPA staff to continue their walkout.

London bus workers at Abellio to go on strike.

11 January

Unison members working for five ambulance services in England will stage a fresh walkout.

The GMB union, also representing ambulance staff, has scheduled further strike action for this date.

EIS, joined by the Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association, will stage another national strike in secondary schools and secondary special schools.

RPA staff will continue their walkout.

12 January

Workers on London’s Elizabeth line will go on strike.

London bus workers at Abellio will also stage industrial action.

RPA staff will continue their walkout.

13 January

RPA staff to continue their walkout.

16 January

EIS to stage a national strike for 16 consecutive days until February 2, which will see members in two local authorities strike each day.

London bus workers at Abellio will go on strike.

18 January

Royal College of Nursing (RCN) members in England will strike.

19 January

London bus workers at Abellio will go on strike.

RCN members in England will continue their strike.

23 January

Unison members working for five ambulance services in England will stage another walkout.

25 January

London bus workers at Abellio will go on strike.

26 January

London bus workers at Abellio will continue strike.

Workers in several of Britain’s key service sectors are striking in what is being called the new “winter of discontent” as cost of living pressures clash with below-inflation pay offers.

Many strikes, such as that of the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union (RMT), have been going on for months, with warnings union members will vote to take their fight far into 2023.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said 417,000 working days were lost to strikes in October, the highest monthly total since November 2011 saw mass public sector walkouts over pension reforms.

Liam James reports:

TfL has said that strike are planned for Wednesday and Thursday on Abellio bus services.

On the strike days, TfL writes that they intend to run as many services as possible, but expect disruption.

Routes affected by the strikes are, for the most part, in west and south London. Other bus services will not be affected.

Over six months after the national rail strikes began, the two biggest rail unions have planned to stop work for a total of five days at the start of 2023 – aimed at wrecking journey plans for a week between Monday 2 January and Saturday 8 January.

More than 40,000 members of the RMT union working for Network Rail and 14 train operators will walk out for 48 hours on 3 and 4 January, and again on 6 and 7 January.

On the intervening day, Thursday 5 January, thousands of train drivers belonging to the Aslef union who work for 15 train operators will strike.

Read more here:

National Highways workers belonging to the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS), Britain’s biggest civil service union, are the latest to go on strike this December, with staff based in London and south east England hitting the picket lines on Thursday.

The demonstrations will take place on a regional, rolling basis until 7 January and could ultimately see as many as 125 on-road traffic officers and operating centre operatives downing tools out of 1,500 frontline staff – accounting for 8 per cent, according to National Highways – which has moved to reassure the public it has “robust and well-rehearsed measures” in place to deal with any problems that might arise.

With staff based at depots in Godstone and Winchester walking out, the M25 is expected to be affected on Thursday, as well as the M20 heading towards Folkestone.

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Britain’s “winter of discontent” looks set to rumble on into the new year after a month of bitter strikes in December brought the country to a standstill and placed Christmas in jeopardy for many.

Nurses, railway staff, postal workers, G4S employees, London bus drivers, Eurostar security personnel, Border Force agents, Heathrow baggage handlers, Scottish teachers, driving examiners and National Highway Workers have all walked out in recent weeks as disputes between their employers and unions about pay and working conditions rumble on at a time when the UK remains mired in economic crisis.

What’s more, few of those conflicts have been resolved, leading many unions to threaten further industrial action in January.

Read more here:

Across the United Kingdom, strike action is being seen across the rail network, in hospitals, ambulance services, postal workers and many other sectors as the cost of living crisis and years of austerity have led to wages not keeping pace with inflation.

In this episode, Rob Williams, Union Organiser for the National Shop Stewards Network, answers your questions on what the strike action is trying to achieve and what has led people to take strike action.

Watch here: