UNIONS INFLICT CHRISTMAS STRIKE MISERY

BRITAIN faces a nightmare before Christmas as unions threaten to bring the country to a standstill. 

- Martyn Brown

Thousands of civil servants, HGV drivers, postal workers, nurses and security staff are set to down tools across December and January, meaning weeks of strike hell for millions.

The RMT union piled further misery on the nation last night after announcing rail workers will hold a series of 48-hour walkouts throughout the festive season. Staff across Network Rail and 14 train operating companies will abandon railways on December 13, 14, 16 and 17. More industrial action will kickstart the New Year, with walkouts on January 3, 4, 6 and 7.

It comes after food industry bosses warned supplies of beers, turkeys, takeaways and other festive food and drinks could all be put under strain because of industrial action.

Steve Montgomery, chairman of industry body the Rail Delivery Group, said: “It would be tragic if more train strikes wreck the first real festive season that millions of families have enjoyed since 2019.

“They will also take even more money out of the pockets of railway staff and devastate the pubs, restaurants and shops who depend on this time of year to make a profit.”

The country is facing a winter of discontent after 100,000 civil servants voted last week to strike and nurses decided to take action for the first time in their 106-year history.

Rishi Sunak warned his Cabinet that “challenging” months lay ahead.