British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak ended months of bitter deadlock with his country's health workers after persuading hundreds of thousands of striking nurses, ambulance workers and other medical staff to return to work in exchange for promises of higher pay and bonuses.
The agreement, which trade union leaders are now urging their members to accept, ends the biggest work dispute since Britain's National Health Service was established more than 70 years ago.
But the deal comes at a hefty cost, and it still leaves Mr Sunak facing a number of other nationwide strike problems.
Britain has not experienced such a wave of strikes since Mrs Margaret Thatcher, a previous prime minister, famously confronted the country's powerful trade unions during the early 1980s.
Her measures, banning politically-motivated strikes and restricting the ability of trade unions to order work stoppages, have meant that Britain benefited from one of Europe's most flexible labour markets and enjoyed one of the continent's lowest strike rates.
No longer, however. In recent months, almost every unionised labour force from public transport staff to teachers, doctors and postal workers - had walked off to demand higher pay and better working conditions.
Even staff at the country's immigration service went on strike over the Christmas and New Year holiday periods, forcing the government to deploy soldiers for passport checks at harbours and airports.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة March 18, 2023 من The Straits Times.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة March 18, 2023 من The Straits Times.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
A German initiative to keep workers employed by retraining them
Germany - When Mr Emrullah Karaca began working at a factory in Gifhorn, Germany, where the auto parts supplier Continental builds components for hydraulic brakes, he was looking for a temporary job after finishing high school.
Rex diversifies business but banks on oil, gas for short-term value
S’pore-listed company bets on drones, medical tech for future growth as fossil fuels phase out
More alumni of local unis return to school, but barriers remain
Costs, work and family commitments among constraints faced: NUS survey
Sellers can list their flats on HDB portal from May 13
Service seeks to provide buyers and sellers access to secure transactions
Young Taiwanese find it hard to buy a home as wealth gap widens
Workers want new govt to prioritise tackling stagnant wages, soaring housing prices: Poll
Flash floods kill 315 in Afghanistan villages
KABUL Flash floods caused by heavy rain have devastated villages in northern Afghanistan, killing 315 people and injuring more than 1,600, the authorities said on May 12, as villagers buried their dead and aid agencies warned of widening havoc.
Surge In worldwide dengue numbers may not impact S'pore, say experts
Even as dengue numbers soar worldwide, experts say it remains to be seen how the record figures elsewhere will impact the number of infections in Singapore.
Cruise centres to be merged, freeing up space along southern waterfront
Move is part of plans for promenade from Labrador Nature Park to Marina Bay
Two Straits Times digital projects win top awards in global contest
It clinches total of 60 awards, of which 51 were for its digital work
NADAL NOT RULING OUT PARIS ENCORE
Despite losing tamely to Hurkacz, he leans towards trying for I5th French Open title